Capital Region Model Railway Tour

The Capital Region Model Railway Tour is a self-guided tour in which local modellers open their layouts for a day and host visitors who want to see what model railroading is all about. It is run by the CRMRT, an association formed from a group of model train enthusiasts with the support of the Ottawa Valley Associated Railroaders, the St. Lawrence Division of the NMRA and the Canadian Association of Railway Modellers, and it is open to any member of the public with an interest in the hobby.

The operator stresses that this is not a house tour: visitors stay only in the designated railway areas, respect the owner's home and keep their children supervised. Participants register at a central hall, where each person over 15 shows photo ID and signs a registration form, adults receive a Tour Pass and the group a bilingual Tour Guide Book, and maps in a map room help plan the visit before driving to the layouts of their choice. One pass gives access to as many layouts as visitors can fit in. Returning participants can register and pay in advance online, and new participants can pre-register online but still complete ID verification at the hall.

Visits, at your own pace, to model railway layouts opened by local modellers in their homes, using the Tour Guide Book and the maps handed out at registration. Layout owners and visitors share the experience, so questions are welcome.

Registration is in the basement meeting room at the Preston Event Centre (St. Anthony Hall), 523 St Anthony Street, Ottawa; bring photo ID for each person over 15. This hall is the only public venue of the tour: the layouts are in the homes of local modellers, and the operator asks visitors to follow the Tour Guide's instructions on where to park and which door to enter at each one. Greeters at each house ask visitors to sign a guest book and quote their pass number. Children must be supervised at all times, and visitors must stay in the designated railway areas only.