I’m a lifelong model railway enthusiast
Currently, I’m building several layouts:
My primary interest is an S scale layout based on the Niagara St. Catharines & Toronto Railway – an electrified interurban and Canadian National Railways subsidiary that operated in the eastern end of Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula until 1960. To learn more about it, visit the Niagara Electrics in 1:64 page.
My other interest is a 7mm (British 0) scale layout based on the Great Western Railway circa 1905. I’m building a classic GWR Branch Line Terminal on a shelf. To learn more, visit the Great Way Round in 7mm page.
Both of these layouts are very much works in progress.
My most recently “finished” layout (are they ever finished?) was an S scale model railway based on the Canadian National Railway’s lightly-trafficked line to Port Rowan, Ontario. I started planning this layout in mid-2011 and construction commenced in October of that year. I tore down that layout in August of 2020 in preparation for a move across country. You can read about it on the Port Rowan in 1:64 page.
While Port Rowan in 1:64 was my main interest for many years it’s not my only one. I’ve built a lot of layouts – and railway models – over the decades. I have worked in HO, S, O and large scales. I have modelled in standard gauge and in various narrow gauges. I have followed a prototype quite closely – and pursued flights of fancy.
Some of these journeys have been more successful than others, but I’ve always learned from the process. And I’ve often shared what I’ve learned through various media. I’ve been a regular contributor to various hobby publications – most notably, Railroad Model Craftsman magazine – and I’ve written various blogs. I created, produced and co-hosted The Model Railway Show, a podcast about the hobby. And I was a host on TrainMasters TV.
I live in Saskatoon, Canada with my wife and our border collie, Roy.
I spent eight years training our first border collie, Mocean (now passed), to work sheep – the job for which they are bred. I really enjoyed that.
Mocean was getting a bit old to be running a large field and managing livestock, and Jack – our second dog (also now passed) – never really showed the instinct. So in early 2016 we adopted Roy, a puppy with a strong herding background.
It turned out that he was a disaster on sheep – he wanted to run them into fences, and I just couldn’t trust him around livestock. So now I’m the ringmaster of an underemployed circus. At least I don’t have to give them as many baths…
Around the time I hung up my stock stick and whistle and washed my farm boots for the last time, a friend reintroduced me to roleplaying games and tabletop skirmish games. I haven’t played these in 30 years, and it was great to return to them. I’ve found they have evolved in many positive ways over the past three decades…
How to reach me:
If you have a question about something specific on the blog, you’ll find a handy contact form on the page called “How to reach me”.
The Model Railway Show 