Oceanside Junior Railroaders Club

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! 🚂

04/07/2026

At OJRC’s March meetup, we found ourselves right in the middle of the process—the part where progress can feel slow, but a lot is actually happening.

We continued working on the mountain and surrounding scenery for the in-store layout at Railyard GAMES, focusing on smoothing out the plaster to create a more natural transition into the existing layout. Along the way, we tried a few new approaches, like using fingers dipped in water to smooth surfaces and adjusting our Hydrocal mix—smaller batches and a bit more moisture made it much easier to work with this time around.

We also started experimenting with colour, testing a diluted charcoal dye using both brush-on and wash techniques. Letting the wash flow into the crevices added some instant depth and shadow, which was fun to see take shape.

Jeff Hatcher joined us again and shared some helpful perspective—not everything needs to match perfectly. Using trees and natural breaks can help different sections of a layout blend together while still having their own character.

We’re still working out what industries and buildings this area will eventually hold, but that’s part of the process too. Taking the time to try things, adjust, and come back with fresh eyes each month is all part of building something that works.

Thanks to Jeff and Railyard Games for continuing to support the group as the layout slowly, but surely, comes together.

We’ll be taking a break from the layout this month to check out the Nanaimo Model Train Show next Sunday (April 12). Looking forward to some inspiration and ideas to bring back to our next session. 🚂

03/17/2026

The Nanaimo Model Train Show is coming up and it’s always a great event for anyone who loves model railroading. 🚂

📅 Sunday, April 12 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Beban Park Recreation Centre, Nanaimo
🎟️ Admission: Adults $10 | Youth (6–17) $5

Expect impressive layouts, vendors, and plenty of inspiration for your own model railroad projects. For more details: https://www.nanaimotrainshow.com/

03/06/2026

At Oceanside Junior Railroaders' February meetup, members spent the morning working on mountain building and rock carving for the in-store layout at Railyard GAMES. It’s always fun to see how a pile of plaster can slowly start to look like a real landscape.

This session focused on carving realistic rock faces using Hydrocal (a white gypsum cement). The track was protected with painter’s tape while the plaster was mixed slowly with water until it reached a thick, frosting-like consistency. Working in small sections, the members applied it generously so there was plenty to carve from, then began shaping it while it was still a bit wet.

Our mentor for the morning, Jeff Hatcher, shared lots of practical tips along the way, like adding horizontal striations, a few vertical cracks, and looking for natural textures in the plaster to accentuate. He also demonstrated a few clever scenery tricks, including using bark or real rocks for texture and crushed aluminum foil to create plaster moulds.

One of the things we appreciate most about mentors like Jeff is that mentorship isn’t just about showing how to do something; it’s about encouraging the kids to jump in, try it themselves, and build the confidence that comes with learning a new skill.

As the layout continues to take shape, stay tuned to see what the members tackle next.

01/27/2026

ICYMI: This weekend only! The North Island Model Railroaders’ annual train show is rolling into the Campbell River Museum on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. There’s an entry fee, but plenty of layouts, details, and inspiration to enjoy. 🚂

01/21/2026

ICYMI: If you find yourself down Island before February 28, the Victoria Model Railway Club has their HO-scale layout set up at Tillicum Centre. They’ll be on site Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. A fun, free stop for train fans of all ages. And hey, maybe you’ll pick up a few new ideas. 🚂

So here is the info for the upcoming show at Tillicum Centre... Hope to see you here ..

01/15/2026

Last weekend, the Oceanside Junior Railroaders Club jumped straight into hands-on work at Railyard GAMES, picking up where we left off in November on the in-store layout. Over a couple of busy hours, members carved, shaped, tested, and adjusted terrain, turning rough foam into the beginnings of a real landscape. The group also welcomed a couple of new members, who jumped right in. 🚂

There was plenty of practical learning woven into the morning. Members reviewed knife and saw safety before carving styrofoam, focusing on where hands should (and shouldn’t 😉) be and how to work confidently and safely. From there, plaster cloth came out to lock in the shape of the hills, add strength, and smooth the surface, creating a solid base for paint, texture, and scenery in future sessions.

As always, time was set aside to run trains. Operating the HO layout led to some troubleshooting when an engine kept derailing in the tunnel, which turned into a chance to slow things down, test ideas, and work through a real challenge together. Steady work, hands-on problem-solving, and real progress. A good way to spend a Saturday morning! ✅

12/23/2025

Our November meetup had members rolling up their sleeves at Railyard GAMES, working on the in-store layout — specifically the far-left loop where the scenery is still taking shape. With most of the track already in place, it was a great opportunity to focus on terrain and see how ideas translate into a shared space.

This session was all about building onto something that already existed. Starting with a Styrofoam base, members used cereal-box cardboard and a glue gun to create a lattice structure for rolling hills. Plans evolved as they went, including the decision to add a mountain in the corner — not part of the original idea, but a good fit once they saw the space come together. 🏔️

The emphasis was on experimenting, making adjustments, and keeping things flexible. Nothing was treated as permanent, which made it easier to try ideas and talk through options together. By the end of the meetup, the loop had a whole new feel and will serve as a solid base for the next steps, whether that’s more foam work, plaster, or electrical. 🚂

12/07/2025

Our October meetup marked a big milestone for OJRC - our first-ever operating session! Hosted by mentor Marty (with fellow mentor Colin joining in), the group ran trains on Marty’s Massachusetts-themed layout, one he began building in Ontario before moving it to Vancouver Island.

For those new to the term, an op-session is when members operate the layout like a real railway: delivering freight, switching cars, following a schedule, and working together as a crew. Collaboration was the name of the game as members paired up serving as conductor and engineer.

We welcomed a new member who jumped right in and was a great fit from the start. Marty also shared some very cool HO-scale tricks, like cereal boxes turned into buildings, window screen as chain-link fencing, and handmade trees using spirea and ground foam. So fun, so inspiring, and so many ideas the kids can try at home!