Winnipeg Model Railroad Club cancels annual banquet

The WMRC's annual May AGM and banquet have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No awards for the club's annual photo and model contests will be given out this year due to the cancellation of the WMRC's spring train show. A draw for two HO gauge diesel engines, which usually takes place at the AGM, will be held at our first meeting, to be held on September 11 at the Charleswood Legion. T shirts with the club's 65th anniversary logo will be for sale at the meeting.

NMRA to hold virtual convention on Facebook this weekend

The NMRA British Region has come up with a wonderful idea! To make up for all of the national and regional model railroad conventions have been cancelled this spring due to COVID-19, they have created a virtual convention.

The convention will be held on April 24 and 25. It starts at Midnight in the UK, which six hours ahead of central standard time and five hours ahead of eastern standard time. Please adjust the time to your local time zone.

They will have clinicians and layout tours from across the world, representing the true global nature of the hobby and the NMRA. Every hour they will have a different clinician start a clinic using Facebook live in the NMRA Facebook Group.

The convention is open to anyone who is a member of the NMRA Facebook page.

A schedule of clinicians and tours have been posted on their Facebook page.  Their Facebook link is:  https://www.facebook.com/events/s/nmra-x-virtual-facebook-conven/1474263012755341/

Prairie Dog Central cancels May and June runs

The Prairie Dog Central Railway has cancelled all runs for the months of May and June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vintage Locomotive Society, which owns and operated the Prairie Dog Central,  is monitoring the situation carefully, but no decision has been made as to if there will be any runs during the summer.

The railway has donated 1,000 latex gloves and 1,000 eye pieces to the Selkirk and District Regional Health Centre. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the gloves and eye pieces were used by volunteers performing regular maintenance and restoration work.

National Model Railroad Association cancels 2020 national convention

The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has cancelled their 2020 national convention. The convention, titled Gateway 2020, was scheduled to begin on July 12, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri. The local host group has determined that they can no longer continue with the preparations and operation of the convention. One reason for the decision is that a key member is ill with COVID-19.

Some members of the local model railroad community in St. Louis have withdrawn their model railroads from the layout hops due to concerns about  the COVID-19 virus.

The NMRA has never cancelled a convention before Gateway 2020, including during World War II.

For those who have registered for the convention, the refund policy will be published as soon as possible at Gateway2020.org.

Regina's Railfest cancelled due to COVID-19

Regina Railfest 2020 has been cancelled. The model railroad exhibit was scheduled to be held at the Caledonian Curling Club in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 2 and 3, 2020. 

 

The show will not be proceeding due to the ongoing issues and concerns related to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and related guidance provided by the province of Saskatchewan and provincial health authorities regarding limitations and restrictions placed upon public gatherings.

 

Winnipeg Model Railroad's April meeting has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's April meeting, scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2020, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, the club holds their elections at the April meeting. This will have to be postponed until the fall. The existing executive will continue to run the club until the next general meeting can be called.

No decision has been made as to whether the annual banquet and AGM should be held on May 8. The executive is monitoring the situation and will make a decision closer to the proposed date.