Oceanside Junior Railroaders Club

10/31/2026

Plan it. Build it. Run it. Have fun!

For our first meetup of the new season, Oceanside Junior Railroaders Club members visited Nick Acciavatti to check out his newest layout, and came away with some great reminders about what model railroading is all about.

Nick is building a layout based on the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway, running from Nanaimo to Parksville, with branches to Port Alberni and Courtenay. He's been at it for about a year, starting with a scale drawing, plenty of erasing, and a plan to work outward from one corner. Real photographs provide inspiration, but not everything has to be figured out before you begin. He's tackling new challenges, including building his first helix, and learning along the way.

And here's the best part: you don't have to wait until a layout is finished to enjoy it! Nick had enough track ready for the members to get some trains running.

Being a professional isn't a requirement, and neither is having all the answers or getting everything perfect. Get started, ask questions, share ideas, learn as you go and, most importantly, have fun with it!

Thanks, Nick, for welcoming us in and sharing your enthusiasm with OJRC!

Want to follow Nick's layout progress? You can find him on Facebook at Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway By Nick Acciavatti and check out his videos on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/). 🚂

08/27/2026

Another successful Railway Day is in the books! Oceanside Junior Railroaders' brand-new Touch-A-Train table was a huge hit, especially with our littlest railway fans. It was so much fun watching kids run trains back and forth and move the buildings around to create their own little scenes. And judging by the smiles from both kids and parents, having a place where they were actually encouraged to touch the trains was a big plus! We’ll definitely be bringing this one back.

Our OJRC Sale Table was a success, too! So many people were pleased to see our 50% off for youth pricing. We raised funds to cover supplies and space for our upcoming skill-building workshops and even better, the trains, rolling stock and buildings that found new homes are now out there being enjoyed and inspiring some new young model railroaders.

And then there were the conversations with fellow model railroaders and Railway Day visitors. There’s just something about trains that brings out the little boy or girl in everyone. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, maybe it’s the memories, or maybe it’s simply the magic of trains. Whatever it is, we love being part of it.

A huge thank you to the Parksville Museum for hosting such a wonderful day and to everyone who stopped by to see what OJRC is all about. We had a fantastic time! 🚂

08/22/2026

🚂 Little railway fans: this one is for you!

This year, Oceanside Junior Railroaders Club is introducing something brand new at Railway Day—a Touch-A-Train table! While there will be lots of railway treasures around the Parksville Museum that you can look at, this is one place where you’re encouraged to touch, move and play with the trains.

Pick up the railcars and move them along the track, switch them from one track to another, move the buildings around and create your own little railway scene with the cars. There’s no electricity involved, so you’re in control! We just ask that you be gentle and share the trains with others.

Our Touch-A-Train table will be located between the Fire Hall and the Montrose School, so come find us and let your little railway fan get some hands-on train time!

📅 Sunday, August 23
🕙 10:00 am–3:00 pm
📍 Parksville Museum
🎟️ Admission by donation

Looking forward to see you all at Railway Day tomorrow!

08/20/2026

🚂 Want to take home a little piece of the model railroading hobby? Here’s a sneak peek at some of what you’ll find at the OJRC Sale Table at Railway Day this Sunday!

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have a selection of donated model railway items, including engines, rolling stock, structures, and more. Everything is priced reasonably, with 50% off for youth. Cash only, please.

Proceeds from the sale will help the Oceanside Junior Railroaders Club fund supplies and meeting space for our skill-building workshops this fall.

📅 Sunday, August 23, 2026
🕙 10:00 am–3:00 pm
📍 Parksville Museum
🎟️ Admission by donation

Come have a look—you never know what you might find! 🚂

08/16/2026

🚂 One week to go! Railway Day is happening next Sunday, August 23, at the Parksville Museum!

From model train displays and a hands-on switching layout to E&N Railway history in Craig’s Cabin, steam and coal demonstrations, a scavenger hunt, Swap & Shop collectibles, and hourly screenings of Rocky Mountain Express, there will be plenty to explore for railway enthusiasts of all ages.

Add in live afternoon music and food trucks, and there’s more than enough to fill your day! And of course, OJRC will have a booth at Railway Day, too. We’d love to see our members, families, mentors, fellow railway enthusiasts and anyone who’s curious about what we’re up to.

📅 Sunday, August 23, 2026
🕙 10:00 am–3:00 pm
📍 Parksville Museum
🎟️ Admission by donation

Come out and celebrate all things railway with us! 🚂

08/13/2026

🚂 Steam trains are running in Port Alberni this weekend! There aren’t many opportunities to ride a train on Vancouver Island, so take the short trip over the hump and climb aboard a piece of railway history.

Alberni Pacific Railway is running four 40-minute steam train excursions each day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm and 2 pm, powered by their 1929 Baldwin Steam Locomotive No. 7. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at their new ticket booth before departure.

And if this gets you in the mood for more trains, Railway Day is coming up August 23 at the Parksville Museum!

All Aboard the Summer Steam Express this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at 11am, 12noon, 1pm & 2pm.

Climb aboard our fully restored 1929 Baldwin Steam Locomotive and ride along Port Alberni’s beautiful waterfront, past the iconic Paper Mill and through the urban forests up to Roger St, on this unforgettable waterfront ride.

Exprience Port Alberni’s past, from the rails! This isn’t just a train ride, it’s a throwback to a time when steam ruled the rails.

The experience great for families, rail fans, and anyone who wants a taste of history in motion.

Tickets and Information avaliable online at www.albernipacificrailway.ca, or in-person at the NEW ticket booth prior to departure.

All Aboard!

08/10/2026

The VIVA Canada! exhibit at The MAC - McMillan Arts Centre celebrates Canada by rail, featuring Joan Larson’s beautiful pastel artwork, along with a vintage clothing display, large Canadian train travel posters, and train memorabilia.

📍 McMillan Arts Centre, Parksville
📅 On until August 30
🕚 11 am–3 pm daily, except Mondays

If you’re looking for something train-related to enjoy before Railway Day @ The Parksville Musem on August 23, this looks like a fun stop! Check out the video below for a sneak peek of the exhibit. 🚂🇨🇦

07/06/2026

At our May meeting, held at Railyard GAMES, we welcomed a new member and made great progress on the in-store layout. New tanks and structures were added to our oil facility, the remaining landscape received its base coat of paint, and we continued experimenting with scenery techniques on our mountain. It ended up a little darker than planned, but that's all part of the process! This fall, we'll try some dry brushing and ground cover to achieve the look we're after.

Of course, no meeting would be complete without running a few trains. We also picked up some helpful track-cleaning tips, learning what causes dirty track and a couple of simple ways to keep trains running smoothly.

Now we're enjoying a summer break, but we'll be back together for Railway Day @ The Parksville Musem on Sunday, August 23. If you make it out, be sure to stop by and say hello! 🚂

06/05/2026

Back in April, five OJRC members attended the Nanaimo Model Train Show. This annual event offers plenty of inspiration, opportunities to connect with mentors who have supported our club, and the chance to add a few items to one’s collection.

Members enjoyed seeing layouts in every scale from Z to G, with the On30 narrow gauge logging layout being a particular favourite. Another standout display that sparked plenty of conversation was the North Island Model Railroaders layout. Members enjoyed searching for hidden details—aka "Easter eggs"—including an old locomotive tucked away in the bush. It was a great reminder that model railroading is about more than running trains around a track; it's also about telling a story. We also came away with ideas for how inexpensive, repurposed, or even broken items can be creatively incorporated into a layout.

While OJRC is taking a break for the summer, we're already looking ahead to Railway Day @ The Parksville Musem on August 23. We’ll be taking part in the day and hope to see you there! 🚂

04/30/2026

One of the things we’re quickly learning about the model railroading community is how willing people are to share their time, knowledge, and materials. After receiving a number of donations themselves, the CFB Esquimalt Model Railway Club reached out to see if there was anything our club could use—and we’re so grateful they did.

A recent visit to their space at CFB Esquimalt resulted in some great additions for both current and future projects, including a coal mine, fuel tank, industrial buildings, and a couple of engines. It was also nice to connect again at the Nanaimo Model Train Show and personally say thank you.

It’s generosity like this that helps keep the next generation of model railroaders on track! 🚂