Poul Pedersen, right, his wife Ulla, centre, and his daughter, Lotte Mendes, are the three creative minds behind the amazing Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad display. The Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad was recently given a four-and-a-half star rating and awarded the certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor – the world’s largest travel website. The award is given out based on customer reviews left on TripAdvisor’s website. Out of 35 reviews, the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad recieved 22 five-star ratings, 12 four-star ratings and one single-star rating. Photo by Mathew White.
With more than 60,000 tiny figures, 1,600 small buildings, a couple thousand lights, 30 trains and over 4,000 square feet of real estate, it’s no wonder the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad was recently given a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor (the world’s largest travel website), chalking up a rating of four-and-a-half stars out of a possible five and chosen as the number one tourist destination in Osoyoos.
“I was very surprised,” said Poul Pedersen, owner and one of the three creative minds behind the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad. “That was something that just came out of the blue.”
Pedersen said he didn’t even know about the rating on TripAdvisor until he received the certificate of excellence in the mail a few days earlier.
It’s great to see this railroad, which he and his family have put countless hours into, receive the attention and praise it deserves, he said.
“That’s why we created it,” said Pedersen. “So people can write and talk about it. We don’t call this work. It’s more of a hobby for us and it’s been my hobby for more than 40 years.”
Pedersen said he and his family started the railroad back in 2001 and have continued to expand until running out of room last year. Now, he said, they are starting to re-do certain areas because they “keep getting new ideas.”
According to their website, the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence is given out based on customer ratings and reviews. To date, the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad has received 35 reviews on the website, with 22 five-star ratings, 12 four-star ratings and one single-star rating.
Comments such as “my son loved it” or “incredible detail” or “I cannot believe the amount of work and love that went into this display” are just a few of the positive things people are saying about the railroad, many of whom admit to having no interest in model trains.
Pedersen finished by saying once again how happy and proud he is to have received this award, all for something he loves so much, he would do it for free.
The Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad is located at 11611-115 St. and is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
