Manitoba Live Steamers open house August 23 and 24

School's still out until after Labour Day, but the model railroad and railfan season is opening early, and it's starting off with a blast of steam from the Manitoba Live Steamers! They'll be holding their annual open house this weekend, August 23 and 24. 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Manitoba Live Steamers and Model Engineers, which means they've been around since 1939!

The hours of the open house are from 10:30 – 4:30 on Saturday and 11:00 – 3:00 Sunday.  There will be displays of Model Engineering, with model engines running.  These include stationary engines in the club house, model traction engines – sometimes as large as 1/4 scale – and model locomotives.  The public is welcome to ask drivers who are running for train rides on both tracks.  There will be craft demonstrations as well.

A canteen will be open, selling burgers, hot dogs, pop, chips, and coffee.  All proceeds go to the club.  Donations are appreciated to help defray the costs of maintaining the facilities.

Rides may be available, but they're at the sole discretion of the owner of any individual train that is running on the track, so ask first before you attempt to hop on!

They're located just east of Sturgeon Rd. and Inkster Boulevard. If you're travelling west on Inkster, be sure to take the turn-off before you get on to Centrepoint. Check out their location on the map by clicking here.  

The club features 1000 feet of Elevated Track, which can accomodate (4) different gauges of locomotive:  2-1/2″, 3-1/2″, 4-3/4″, and 5″. The Manitoba Live Steamers’ track features a park-like setting with a clubhouse and caboose, steaming bays, and watering facilities for both ground level and raised track. There are 1100 feet of Ground Level Track for both 4-3/4″ and 7-1/2″ gauge locomotives. The unloading facility consists of two hoists for unloading from trailers to either the raised or ground level tracks.