Niagara Model Railway Show Draws Local Clubs, Vendors and Family Attractions

The spring Niagara Model Railway Show at Merritton Community Centre in St. Catharines on March 2, 2026 brought operating layouts, vendor tables and family-oriented exhibits to the hall, with organizers expecting as many as 400 railway enthusiasts and others to visit. Tables offered model railway sets, individual pieces and accessories, plus books and prints about trains, while children gathered around running displays throughout the day.

Children watched trains run on the Erin Mills Railroad Association layout; Jaxon Hoxie, 4, and sister Harper, 6, were pictured watching the operating display. Fenwick-based Greater Niagara Model Railroad Engineers were on hand, and member Steve Hegedus, shown with a model steam engine, summed up the day simply: "It's the fun of it." Another attendee identified only as Jones said the show "is a good way to introduce children to the model train hobby and for longtime hobbyists to share ideas."

The regional circuit that feeds events like the Merritton show remains active. The Greater Niagara group will open its Fenwick Central layout for two open houses on April 12 and April 19; the layout measures 25 by 35 feet, is HO scale and features dispatcher and yardmaster control plus an automatic signals system, though the venue is not wheelchair accessible. Hegedus has been sharing his love of model railroading for more than 40 years and said he picked up the hobby as a youngster, a continuity reflected in the mix of vintage steam models and modern control systems on display.

North of Niagara, the Midland District Railroad Club continues its long-running annual weekend show at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre, running Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission there is listed at $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $2 for children. The Midland club’s modular setup builds a large-scale railway measuring 50 feet by 20 feet; Richard Small, who has been involved for the past two decades, said of the weekend show, "It's massive." Small noted the event draws visitors "from all over southern Ontario and some from Powassan and New Liskeard in the north" and that the layout now spans the entire skating-rink surface inside the venue.

Collecting and buying remain a big part of these shows. Vendors and exhibitors travel from across the region to offer hard-to-find parts, new and used rolling stock, and historical materials, and club displays give buyers a chance to see products in action on operating layouts. Small also referenced broader rail interest in the region, saying he is "excited about the return of the Northlander passenger train that will make 16 stops as it travels between Toronto and Cochrane."

Organizers have already scheduled the fall edition of the Niagara Model Railway Show for Oct. 25 at Merritton Community Centre, and several nearby club events and flea markets are listed on regional calendars for March and April, giving modelers multiple chances this season to see large layouts, compare vendors and introduce the next generation—just as Jaxon and Harper watched the trains roll by.