Winnipeg Model Railroad Clubmourns passing of former member Fred Shannon

This image of Fred Shannon is from the Rails MRSK page on Facebook.

Former WMRC member Fred Shannon passed away this week. Fred was an active member of the club until he moved to rural Manitoba, but he remained a very enthusiastic model railroader and rail fan all of his life.  Fred was a life long employee of the CPR. He had recently bought his retirement home near Emerson, Manitoba, and regularly posted his rail fanning pictures from that location on RailsMBSK onFacebook . Fred will be remembered for opening his impressive HO layout to hundreds of NMRA members for viewing during Railway Jamboree, the 1983 NMRA national convention held in Winnipeg. 

Jason Golebioski to hold a ground cover clinic at Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks

The Peg City Rail Joiners is hosting a clinic by Jason Golebioski, who will talk about ground cover. The event happens on Monday, February 23rd from 6:30PM to 8:00PM at Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks, 301 Bowman Avenue. Everyone is welcome. The event is free for members of the Peg City Rail Joiners. Non-members encouraged to make a donation.

Visit the WMRC's virtual store!

Did you know that the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club now has its own store? It's a virtual store where you can order spiffy WMRC merchandise such as T-shirts, fleece lined toques and caps. Prices start from only ten bucks! Go to our website, select the order now button and our friendly store manager will arrange to receive your payment in cash or by cheque at the next meeting. If you want these items beforehand, please include a note to that effect and the Store Manager can make alternate arrangements with you. Check it out at https://www.wmrctrainclub.ca/store

 

WinNtrak to display at Grant Park Shopping Centre this February long weekend

The gang at WinNtrak are at it again! Come and see their huge N gauge modular display over at Grant Park Shopping Centre this February long weekend. They'll be there on Saturday, February 14 (Valentine's Day!) from 10AM to 6PM, on Sunday, February 15 from noon to five, and on Monday, February 16 (Louis Riel Day) from noon to five. Grant Park Shopping Centre is located at 1120 Grant Avenue in Winnipeg.

Two exciting events on tap for WMRC's February meeting

At our February meeting the WMRC's globe trotting treasurer Khirad Dhabhar will make a presentation on his recent visit to Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland, the world's largest model railroad display. Khirad will also talk about Minitaur Wunderland's latest attraction, their 3D virtual reality experience. We haven't had an eyewitness presentation about this world famous layout from someone who's been there in almost 11 years, so don't miss out on your chance to see this!

Then we'll have a video clinic on modelling a view block to enhance the long view on your layout and to make trains disappear by using different scenic techniques. The canteen will be open, and we'll have our usual model and photo display, plus our 50-50 draw. The fun starts on Friday, February 13 at 7:30PM in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. Guests are always warmly welcomed.
 

Fred Headon models vintage Canadian Pacific passenger cars

Veteran modeller Fred Headon submitted these CP passenger cars at the WMRC’s January model display. The models of the Canadian Pacific Combination 4208, Canadian Pacific coach 4711 were Pacific Pike kits from the mid-1950s. 

They were assembled with White metal sides, ends, clerestory vent representations, Queen posts, brake fittings and truck side frames, wood floor and roof (roof required shaping to curve ends of clerestory), brass steps and end railings. Plastic wheels were replaced with nickel silver sets.

Sides and ends were painted with Scalecoat CPR tuscan red. Under frame and end platforms were painted with Floquil flat black. Roof areas with single ply Kleenex applied, painted Floquil flat black. Clerestory vents interior area were painted with silver.

Fred used Champ Decals produced by the late Rich Meyere of Minot, North Dakota, and Black Cat Decals of Winnipeg. Interior walls and ceiling were painted with Floquil Central Vermont green. Seats were painted with two different shades of brown. Seat railings were scratch built. Figures came from various sources from the past and Preiser.

 

Murray Brown makes a 3D model of Colfax Saskatchewan station

Murray Brown submitted this well detailed model of a CNR station in Colfax, Saskatchewan at the WMRC's monthly model display at the club's January 2026 meeting.

Colfax, Saskatchewan was a station on the Lewvan Subdivision, running between Regina and Lampman. Located approximately 40 km north of Weyburn, the village was founded in 1911 with the arrival of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, later to become Canadian National Railways. Settled by American immigrants from Iowa, the community was named by B.A. Brown, after Colfax, Iowa. At one time there were three grain elevators: Sask Pool, Searle, and Federal. The Lewvan Subdivision no longer exists but is remembered by Lewvan Street on the south side of Regina.

This model is completely 3D printed, with 52 pieces painted with Vallejo acrylic paints and AK Concrete acrylic diorama terrain. All assembly was with Liquitex Matte Medium. Decals were printed on inkjet waterslide decal paper. A final coating of Mr. Super Smooth Clear Matte finishing spray was applied.

You’ll see this model station in April 2026 at the WMRC Spring Show, as part of an entry for the Special Event!

Public meeting on rail relocation held at the Norwood Community Club

  Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy is seen addressing the audience concerning rail          relocation at the Norwood Community Club on November 18, 2025.

This article was originally published in the January 2026 issue of The Lantern, the official publication of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club.

By Neil Carleton

The province of Manitoba has started a consultation process on how and when rail right of way and yards can be moved.

Lloyd Axworthy, a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister has been hired to head the study. As minister of transport he was involved with the relocation of the rail yard that became The Forks. 

The group includes Barry Prentice, professor of Supply Chain Management a University of Manitoba and Director of the Transport Institute; Jino Distasio, professor in the department of geography at the University of Winnipeg and director of the Institute of Urban Studies.

The group also includes lawyer Mary-Jane Bennett, who was on the Canadian Transportation Agency and recently involved in relocation of the BNSF cross boarder rail relocation in the Vancouver area, Jennifer Moore Rattray, Chief Executive Officer of Marymound. In the past she has worked with the Southern Chiefs organization and was a CBC journalist.

There will be six meetings in the city, held in areas that are affected by rail trackage.

The outline for the study is available online at;

https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20252026/rail-study-report-2026.pdf

The report can also be found by searching Government of Manitoba and look for Winnipeg Rail Relocation Study. 

When relocation is mentioned the first thing people think of is the Canadian Pacific yards that isolate the north end of Winnipeg. While a significant project Winnipeg also has two other class one railways that slice through the city.

Relocation also applies to the CN mainline, BNSF lines and the smaller Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway. The CN Symington yards are also in consideration, as the residential sprawl moves in that direction.

I attended the presentation held at the Norwood Community Club at which the St. Boniface area was considered.

Interesting to note that one third of St. Boniface is the “Mission Industrial area”. This includes the former stockyards, a tank farm and dismantled oil refinery, the busy automobile delivery yard and some rail served industries. The area is crisscrossed by the CPKC, CN and GWWD. Marion Street traffic is regularly stopped at any of three or four crossings.

When you look at the map of the area it there is a spaghetti of tracks and crossings.

It was interesting to hear concerns from some of the over 40 people at the meeting.

One woman wondered if the hump yard at Symington could be closed, ‘it makes a lot of noise’. Symington is not included in the outline for the consultation. At over 700 acres it would be a formidable project to move. By comparison the CPKC yard in the north end is less than 300 acres.

An engineer attending said he had a part in closing the Arlington Bridge. His observation was removing he CPKC yard would open up significant real estate but wondered if the city has the water and sewage capacity for so much new housing? He also pointed out that rerouting the mainlines would still require bridges to cross rivers and the floodway. There would continue to be many crossings of main and rural highways.

Drs. Axworthy, Distasio and Prentice listened closely to all the comments and responded as best they could.

While relocating tracks and yards is the starting point, the final goal is the development that would follow.

An example given is the 4 kilometres of abandoned track in the Brooklands area; as an example of a recreational conversion. The possibility of commuter rail to the Interlake on the exisiting underused line was discussed, as was rail transit south on the Emerson sub right-of-way to open that area for commuter rail traffic.

Repurposed rail lines crossing Winnipeg could also be considered for Light Rail transit, recreation or housing.

There will be a large relocation symposium in the early spring, with a final report published shortly after.

This graphic depicts current railway lines in the St. Boniface area.

WinNtrak to have their largest display ever at Kildonan Place this weekend

Those friendly folks over at WinNtrak are going to have their biggest display ever at Kildonan Place this weekend! View their spectacular N Gauge modular layout on Friday, January 9 from 10AM to 8PM, on Saturday, January 10 from 10AM to 6PM and on Sunday, January 11 from 11AM to 6PM.
 

Buy a WMRC T-Shirt and become one of the beautiful people

WMRC contest chair Ian Plett is looking good in his brand new WMRC 70th anniversary T-shirt.

Do want to be a fashion plate? Do you want to be a trend-setter? Do you want to be a babe magnet? You can't afford an Armani suit? Then come to the WMRC's next meeting and buy one of our spiffy new 70th anniversary T-shirts at our next meeting! They're on sale for just $25 each, and there's a limited supply, so come on down to 6003 Roblin Boulevard at on January 9 at 7:30PM, buy a T-shirt and join all of the beautiful people pictured here showing off their WMRC T-shirts!

WMRC webmaster Murray Brown is looking good too!

                                  So does WMRC Lantern editor and past president Bob Harrison!

Marvin Fetch say he feels 50 years younger in his new WMRC 70th anniversary T-shirt!

Cliff Davidson has never looked better wearing his WMRC 70th anniversary T-shirt!

Ride the rails across the country with Darrell Brownlee

The WMRC is not the only 70 year old! VIA Rail marked the 70th anniversary of the Canadian and her famous Budd cars in 2025.  To travel coast to coast by rail in Canada you will be riding on “The Canadian”, from Vancouver to Toronto, a Corridor train between Toronto and Montreal, and finally “The Ocean” (which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2024) from Montreal to Halifax. 

Whether you're a “Budd” or a “Renaissance” man,  travelling Canada by rail gives you a sense of adventure and a greater insight for modelling railways. Darrell Brownlee, one of our newest members, has made many trips across the country on the Canadian and the Ocean. He'll be presenting his historical knowledge and facts on these great trains and cars and will share travel tips at our January 9th meeting. 

The fun starts at 7:30PM in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The canteen will be open and we will have out usual photo and model displays.