It was worth the trip to visit Larry Skoglund's layout near Morris, Manitoba

Long time WMRC members Gary Stempnick and Marcel Blair watch the Arduino controlled drawbridge rise on Larry Skoglund's layout, located on a farm outside of Morris Manitoba.

For the first time in two years, the WMRC held their monthly meeting outside of Winnipeg. On October 18 they went to a farm outside of Morris, Manitoba to visit Larry Skoglund's spectacular HO layout. Larry's layout was in a large outbuilding attached to his barn, and it was packed with magnificent scenery and many Arduino controlled features. 

Buttons were placed along the layout which controlled the drawbridge, lighting and sound effects, which included thunder and lightning coming from a menacing cloud over a town. The layout also sported an alpine ski resort, complete with a downhill run and an operating ski lift. 

The drawbridge traversed a model of a harbour which featured boats that ran on HO tracks. A magnetic controlled bus rolled down a highway and stopped automatically when the drawbridge was open.

Sadly, this would be the last time this layout was to be displayed, for Larry had just sold his farm and now has to dismantle his layout. It was well worth the trip to go and see it!

Larry's layout features an alpine ski resort with a downhill run and an operating ski lift.

A huge thundercloud threatens this prairie railroad town. Press a button below the layout and you can hear the thunder and see the lightning!

Larry's layout featured a system of tracks recessed under his harbour where boats equipped with HO motors and wheels could sail around it.

Also featured was a hydro dam with lighting and sound effects made to simulate rushing water.

There was also plenty of rail action to see on Larry's layout. Note the use of photographic backdrops which blended seamlessly on his layout.

See WinNtrak's layout at Garden City Shopping Centre and and Jason Shron at Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks this Saturday

WinNtrak will be at Garden City Shopping Centre from Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19.

This weekend is going to be a great one for model railroaders! WinNtrak will be operating their modular layout at the Garden City Shopping Centre from Friday, October 17th through Sunday, October 19th. You can catch their spectacular N Gauge layout on Friday from 10 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and on Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM. 

And on Sunday, October 19, Jason Shron, CEO of Rapido Trains, will be making a special appearance for a public meet and greet at Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks! He’ll be there from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM to chat with customers. He’ll also be bringing along a few of his latest products. Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks is located at 301 Bowman Avenue in Winnipeg.

Jason Shron will be at Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks on October 18 from 12:30 TO 2:00 PM.

 

WMRC to meet in Morris, Manitoba for their October 2025 meeting

We usually meet on the second Friday of the month, but we've changed the date and the location of October's meeting. On Saturday, October 18 we'll be meeting in Morris, Manitoba to view Larry Skoglund's barn layout. There will also be a clinic on the ways you can use arduinos in your model railroad as on Larry's layout.

The meeting starts 1:00 PM. Most members will be meeting at the Santa Lucia restaurant at 111 Main Street in Morris at 11:00 AM for lunch before going to Larry's. Please bring a folding chair instead of a lawn chair due to limited space. We have a few folding chairs if you don't have one. There are no washroom facilities or refreshments available in Larry's barn. Please do not arrive earlier than 12:30 PM at Larry's place.

Rapido CEO Jason Shron is coming to Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks on October 19

Jason Shron, president and CEO of Rapido Trains, will make a special appearance at Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks on Sunday, October 19 from 12:30 to 2:00 PM. He'll be answering customer questions and speaking about all of his new releases. 

Jason rarely makes a personal appearance in Winnipeg, so this is your golden opportunity to meet this dynamic Canadian model railroad manufacturer. Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks is located at 301 Bowman avenue in Winnipeg.