People often ask me why I chose to build an urban railroad instead of a traditional layout featuring mountains, farms, forests, or small towns.

The answer begins with my childhood.

I grew up in downtown Toronto, Canada, one of North America’s great cities. From an early age, I was fascinated by the public transportation systems that connected the city and the people who lived there. I was especially drawn to places like Casa Loma and the neighborhoods surrounding it, the bustling downtown core, and the vibrant uptown districts that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.

What captured my imagination most, however, was Toronto’s skyline.

Landmarks such as the CN Tower, the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre), First Canadian Place, and the city’s many church spires stood as symbols of ambition, growth, and possibility. Equally fascinating were the transportation hubs that connected them. Union Station, Toronto’s historic streetcar network, and the subway system formed the arteries of a living city, moving millions of people between home, work, shopping, education, places of worship, entertainment, and recreation.

Toronto taught me something important: great cities depend on great transportation systems.

As I grew older, that interest only deepened. After graduating from university, I spent much of my free time drawing maps, drafting proposals, and studying ways Toronto’s public transit network could be improved. I was fascinated by how transportation infrastructure shapes communities and influences the quality of life for the people who depend upon it every day.

Then, on my twenty-second birthday in July 2000, my brother and sister gave me a gift that would change my life.

They purchased an N-scale Burlington Northern locomotive and a small loop of track.

That was the day my model railroading journey truly began.

I immediately became captivated by the hobby. I spent countless hours drawing track plans, studying railroad operations, purchasing locomotives and rolling stock, and imagining the layout I hoped to build one day.

From the beginning, N scale was the obvious choice for me. I loved the fact that it allowed me to build larger cities, longer train runs, and more realistic transportation networks in a limited amount of space. While HO scale offered greater detail, N scale offered greater possibilities.

There was only one problem.

I didn’t have anywhere to build.

For more than two decades, I continued collecting trains, track, buildings, vehicles, and accessories while waiting for the right opportunity. Like many hobbyists, I had the passion and the collection but not the available space.

That opportunity finally arrived after I became a homeowner in Maryland. By 2022, my children were old enough that I could begin building a permanent layout without worrying about it being accidentally damaged during everyday family life.

After waiting more than twenty years, I finally began construction.

Initially, I attempted to build a faithful replica of downtown Toronto. However, I soon discovered that trying to recreate every building, street, and landmark exactly as it exists in real life was limiting my creativity. I found myself spending more time trying to duplicate reality than enjoying the creative process.

Eventually, I made a decision.

Rather than recreate an existing city, I would create one of my own.

That decision changed everything.

By designing a fictional city, I gained the freedom to place buildings where I wanted them, create transportation systems that fit my vision, and experiment with architectural styles and urban planning concepts that might never exist together in the real world. My layout could still be inspired by Toronto and other great cities, but it would no longer be constrained by them.

Urban railroading has become much more than a hobby for me.

It is a creative outlet, a stress reliever, and an opportunity to continuously learn new skills. Along the way, I have developed abilities in layout planning, track design, electrical wiring, scenery construction, structure assembly, painting, weathering, photography, urban planning, and architectural modeling.

Perhaps most importantly, urban railroading allows me to celebrate the environments that shaped me. I come from the inner city, and I appreciate the energy, diversity, complexity, and beauty of urban life. While many model railroads focus on rural landscapes, I wanted to create something that reflected the places I know and love.

Urban layouts remain relatively uncommon within the hobby, which makes the challenge even more rewarding.

Through N Scale City, I hope to demonstrate that cities can be every bit as exciting, beautiful, and operationally interesting as mountains, deserts, and countryside settings.

This layout is my tribute to the cities that inspired me, the transportation systems that connected them, and the hobby that has brought me decades of enjoyment.

And in many ways, it is only the beginning.

Another unexpected benefit of building N Scale City has been the opportunity to share the hobby with my children. My daughters, who are currently in elementary school, often help me work on different parts of the layout. Whether they are assisting with scenery, arranging buildings, or simply offering ideas, they have become part of the creative process.

The layout has also become a teaching tool. Through our work together, I explain how cities are planned, why transportation systems are important, how neighborhoods develop, and how roads, railways, schools, businesses, parks, and public spaces work together to create thriving communities. What began as a model railroad has evolved into a hands-on way to teach geography, engineering, architecture, urban planning, and problem-solving.

One of my goals for N Scale City is to show that model railroading can still inspire younger generations. In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital entertainment, the hobby offers something unique: the opportunity to create something tangible, learn new skills, and spend meaningful time with family. Watching my daughters take an interest in the layout gives me hope that the next generation of model railroaders is already taking shape.

Until next time, keep building, keep imagining, and keep the trains moving.

— Kenneth

N Scale City by MetroScale