Winnipeg's mystery model train manufacturer

One of the followers of the WMRC Facebook page discovered this unusual brass locomotive. He also sent an image of the cover of a price list that came with it. The locomotive was manufactured in Winnipeg in 1934 by The Miniature Locomotive works. It was located at 635 Garfield Street, and the name of the contact person is M.G. Winslow. 

A Google search of the property shows that there is a 1 1/2 Story house built in 1913 at that address, which leads us to assume that this was a cottage industry. Another Google search found M.G. Winslow as a member of the Winnipeg branch of the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers in 1953. The gauge is difficult to discern as there isn't any other object to compare it to in these images. Does anyone have any other information about this mysterious Winnipeg model railroad manufacturer?

WinNtrak to display their N scale modular railway at Grant Park Shopping Centre from March 24 to March 26

Got the March blues? Does it seem like the Manitoba winter will never end? Then head to Grant Park Shopping Centre this coming weekend, for WinNtrak will be running trains on their spectacular N gauge modular railway!

They'll be operating their layout for three big days, starting on Friday, March 24 and ending on Sunday, March 26. WinNtrak's head honcho Felix Lesiuk tells us that there you will even be able to enjoy an overhead view of the rail action, as they're setting up where the upper level of the shopping centre meets the lower level.

WinNtrak will be running trains at Grant Park Shopping Centre from 10AM to 8PM on Friday, March 24, from 10AM to 6PM on Saturday, March 25, and from 12PM to 5PM on Sunday, March 26. Grant Park Shopping Centre is located at 1120 Grant Avenue in Winnipeg.  
 

G is for Gino and G scale

Long time member Gino Kost has been seriously getting into G scale! He submitted this model for the WMRC’s model display at the club’s March meeting. This model of an Ontario Northland Railway bulkhead flat is untouched out of the box, but what makes it interesting is the load that Gino created.

Gino’s load is simulated oak timbers, which he hand cut individually and stained with India ink. Scale measurements of the timbers are approximately 8” X 1’6” X 10’6”. Chart tape was used to strap them together.

Learn everything you wanted to know about DCC but were afraid to ask at the WMRC's March meeting

At our March meeting John Bate will tell you everything you wanted to know about DCC but were afraid to ask.  And John knows his stuff! He is a retired professor of computer science at the U of M. He monitors the DCC Working Group, the NMRA committee that develops, enhances, and modernizes the DCC standards.

His clinic will touch on a number of topics, including  how DCC works, the basic Control Variables (CVs), how to use JMRI's Decoder Pro to work with CVs, and a review of techniques for speed matching. If you have any questions bout DCC (and we’re sure you do) they will be welcomed!

The fun starts at 7:00PM on Friday, March 10 at the Charleswood legion, 6003 Roblin boulevard. The canteen will be open, and we will be holding our monthly model and photo displays.