Edmonton model train enthusiast Dylan Bohaychuk brings local history to life and spreads Christmas cheers to the community, one 3D-printed miniature at a time. The maker, a member of the Edmonton Train Collectors Association, has crafted elaborate scale models of iconic sites, including the Canadian Northern Railway Station, built in 1905 and demolished in the 1950s. Bohaychuk’s 3D-printed creations are part of the association’s holiday model train display at Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre, open Thursday through Sunday year-round.
Each model showcases meticulous craftsmanship. First, Bohaychuk designed the buildings digitally, based on blueprints, photographs, and historical records. This process can take up to two months, followed by the actual printing, and then hand-painting of the final pieces, the painstaking stage the maker says is the most time-consuming.
More standout pieces in addition to the Canadian Northern Railway Station, are the Firehall number 10, the Edmonton Carnegie Library, demolished in 1968, and the Princess Theatre, a 1915 cinema closed in 2020. Currently, the display features five 3D-printed buildings, with plans to add more.
For the festive season, the display features a holiday train chugging along the tracks, adorned with presents and twinkling lights. Train collectors aim for such displays to become must-see attractions, sparking interest in local architectural history. More broadly, this adorable Canadian exhibit showcases how 3D printing can contribute to heritage preservation. Ho-ho-hopefully!
