Your last chance to ride the Assiniboine Valley Railway until spring!

Heads up, all AVR fans! The Assiniboine Valley Railway is open to the public on December 31 and January 1, and it's your last chance to ride the rails until the spring! What better way is there to celebrate the New Year than going for a wonderful winter ride on their trains?

Their hours are from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. One ride costs only two bucks, and you can get a 12 ride pass for only $20, which is also good for any AVR Public Event! Kids two and under ride for free! All minors must be accompanied by an adult. The AVR is located at 3001 Roblin Boulevard, just west of Assiniboine Park.

Assiniboine Valley Railway running trains on December 26 and 27

Last weekend, our good friends at the AVR ran trains for their first holiday weekend this season, but turnout was a bit disappointing, as temperatures were unseasonably cold. But we’re pleased to announce that they’ll be back running trains on Boxing Day, and on December 27 as well! 

It looks like we’re gonna get socked with a pretty big snowstorm on Christmas Day, but hopefully it will be all cleared away by Boxing Day. And it better be for the sake of the AVR and all of those Boxing Day shoppers as well!

If you’re Boxing Day shopping, you’ll probably be finished way before the AVR is open to the public at 1:00PM. By that time, all the great sale items will be long gone, so why not come out to the AVR and enjoy the ride?

Their hours are from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. One ride costs only two bucks, and you can get a 12 ride pass for only $20, which is also good for any AVR Public Event! Kids two and under ride for free! All minors must be accompanied by an adult. The AVR is located at 3001 Roblin Boulevard, just west of Assiniboine Park.

They’re also open December 31 (New Year’s Eve) & January 1!

Darryl Audette builds a model railroad display at Toad Hall

Zenon Lisakowski, one of our intrepid roving reporters, was dispatched to Toad Hall Toys recently to check out the spectacular work that Darryl Audette has been doing on the model railroad display that he has created there. The Z-man even lent a hand in the modelling! Darryl, who is a professional theatrical set designer, has had this layout featured in the pages of Metro News Winnipeg earlier this month. 

This image was taken in the middle of construction, but the display is up and running, and it’s worth your while to go downtown to check it out during the holiday season! While you’re there, check out their new expanded model railroad department, which sells all gauges. There's free parking on Thursday and Friday evenings after 6:00PM, and all day on Saturday. WMRC members get at 10% discount on all non-sale in-store model railroad items (but you gotta show them your membership card first!).

Toad Hall Toys is located at 54 Arthur Street, in the middle of Winnipeg’s historic exchange district. Until December 24th, they’re open from 9:30AM to 9:00PM Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00AM to 5:00PM.

Assiniboine Valley Railway has first winter run this weekend

Our good friends at the Assiniboine Valley Railway are again offering afternoon rides from 1:00 to 4:00 PM during the 2016 Christmas season at the following dates:

Saturday & Sunday December 17 & 18

          Monday & Tuesday December 26 (Boxing Day) & 27

          December 31 (New Year’s Eve) & January 1.

Come and enjoy riding through the AVR’s snow-clad forest! There is no light display this year, but it is quite a different experience from the summer rides! 

One ride costs only two bucks, and you can get a 12 ride pass  for only $20, which is also good for any AVR Public Event! Kids two and under ride for free! All minors must be accompanied by an adult. The AVR is located at 3001 Roblin Boulevard, just west of Assiniboine Park. Look for the sign by the road!

Check out a great video from Christmas 2015 on YouTube from City TV’s Wheeler in the Morning show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuaLcgmluYA&index=7&list=PLyfwwR60J1bNAcu5smeqYdKsYkGLIwaat

Winnipeg author Barbara Lange seeks railway photographs

Winnipeg author Barbara Lange is seeking photographs from the Victoria Beach / Grand Beach Subdivision anywhere from 1916 to 1962. This would include trains, stations, people, businesses, and even the beaches.  She has collected memories for her next book and needs photos of CNR, its predecessors, and life on the east side of Lake Winnipeg as it relates to the beach train, especially the 'Moonlight Special'. 

Barbara Lange edited the popular book, Through a window of a train: A Canadian railway anthology, a collection of short story memories from those who lived, loved, and laughed on Canadian trains. You might’ve seen her selling her book at various local train shows The book is also available through Borealis Press.

If you can help, please contact Barbara at writealong@hotmail.com  or at 204-667-8521

Winnipeg's indoor ride-on train is back all this month!

We are pleased to announce that the Holiday Express, Winnipeg’s indoor ride-on train, is back in action this month! They will be open from December 2nd to 23rd, and from December 27 to the 30th at 3059 Ness Avenue (that’s the old Safeway building). They’re open from Monday to Saturday, 12noon to 8pm, and on Sundays from 4pm to 8pm. Only $3 a ride!

Come and check out the new floor layout and decorations! They’re also taking consignment items from any hobby, such as boats, die cast, planes, and trains. 

For more information call  204-837-4776 or email vectormb@mymts.net, or go to their website at http://www.vectorgardentrains.ca

It's time for the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's Klinik Karnival!

It’s Klinic Karnival time at the WMRC! Come on down to the Charleswood Legion on December 9 and learn from some of Winnipeg's finest model railroading experts on how to improve your model railroading skills and techniques. We'll have several table clinics set up and you can visit each one at your leisure and learn how our talented clinicians do their thing.

We have a great group all set to share their knowledge with you, and it's absolutely free! If you were to attend a model railroad convention in the States you'd have to pay big bucks to attend any series of clinics they would hold. But we're not charging one red cent!

And don't forget that......

We're having our Annual 'Christmas Dinner'. Enjoy a delicious gourmet hot dog meal prepared by the world famous South family canteen crew. Our lovely canteen manager Jean South studied hot dog cooking with Jamie Oliver just for this event!  

The fun starts at 7:30PM at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Christmas Cheer Board. There's plenty of free parking, and you don't have to be a member to attend! Guests are always welcome!