Saturday, May 30, 2026

All aboard for Train Day at the Portage La Prairie Model Railroad Club on June 6


Train Day at the Portage Model Railroad Club is happening next Saturday, June 6. This club opens its doors to the public just twice a year, so don't miss out on this opportunity to view all of their spectacular layouts housed in the fully restored Portage CPR station. It takes place from 10AM to 3PM at the Portage CPR station, 301 3rd. street N.E. in Portage La Prairie. Admission is just five bucks. Kids under 12 get in for free!

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Meet the winners of the Thomas the Tank Engine train set

We are happy to announce that the Bunney family are the winners of the Thomas the Tank Engine train set from our annual open house and train show held last month. Pictured above from left to right are Kai, Beau and Owen. Looks like this set will get a lot of use! 

Every year we give away a Thomas set at our annual open house and train show. We don't charge for the tickets. To get a ticket all you have to do is to show up. Come on down to our next open house in 2027, and you might win too!

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Felix Lesiuk sweeps awards at the WMRC's 2026 banquet

Felix Lesiuk (L) is seen being presented the best in show modelling award from WMRC spring show chair Murray Brown at the club's annual banquet.

Felix Lesiuk was the big award winner at the WMRC's annual banquet, held at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park earlier this month. He won both best in show for his photo, titled "Evening Rain" featuring the Prairie Dog Central, which also graced the cover of the May issue of The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC. 


He also won best in show for his modelling efforts for is diorama, titled "Country Road Trestle over Speeder at Signal". To top it off, he also won the photo contest special event for his photo of a train crossing a bridge in Bismarck, North Dakota. Congratulations, Felix!


Felix is seen receiving the special event award in the photo category from photo content chair Bart Hasselfield for his photo of a train crossing a bridge in Bismarck, North Dakota.

   

Felix also won the best in show award in the photo contest category or his photo of the Prairie Dog Central, title "Evening Rain".


Felix won best in show in the model category for his diorama of a speeder crossing under a country road trestle.


 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

WMRC donates $3000 to St.Amant


WMRC president is seen giving a $3000 cheque to Michelle Sankar of St.Amant, the charity of choice for the club. The WMRC is a non-profit organization and a steward of the community. The cheque represents a portion of the proceeds that we've raised at our spring train show and open house and at the Manitoba Hobby Expo.

Saturday, May 09, 2026

Paul Ullrich wins WMRC's 2026 President's shield award

Paul Ullrich receives the WMRC's President's Shield award from president John Bate at the club's 2026 AGM and banquet, held at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park on May 8.

WMRC Social Media Director Paul Ullrich was awarded the President Shield award for rebranding the club's image with his graphic design work. He has redesigned the club's logo, the logo for The Lantern, the club's official publication, the poster for the spring train show and the stickers the club hands out at train shows. 

This is the second time Paul has won this award. In 2016 he won the award for his work as social media director for the club in creating the blog and the Facebook page.

 

Friday, May 08, 2026

Everyone had a great time at Railway Day at the Via Vail Station

WMRC President John Bate hands out stickers and brochures in the lobby of the Via Rail station at Railway Day last Sunday. 

Last Sunday's Railway Day in the lobby of the Via Rail station was well attended, and everyone had great time! The WMRC was in full force at the event. President John Bate and past president Larry Leavens manned the John Allen Timesaver switching layout. Past WMRC treasurer and current Winnipeg Railway Museum President Gary Stempnick brought along his portable N Gauge layout. 


WMRC secretary Brent Karr and Vice President Marvin Fetch displayed tour newest attraction, the Thomas the Tank Engine interactive layout, WMRC secretary Brent Karr and Vice president Marvin Fetch displayed our newest attraction, the Thomas the Tank Engine interactive layout, which was Brent's idea, and built by Brent, Gino Kost and Larry Leavens. WMRC spring program chair and webmaster Murray Brown brought along his Z scale layout in a steamer trunk and took pictures of everything!

 

Monday, May 04, 2026

WMRC to hold it's 2026 banquet and AGM on May 8 at Canad Inns Polo Park


The WMRC will be celebrating another great model railroading season with our annual banquet. We'll be holding our AGM and presenting awards to the winners of our photo and model contests on Friday, May 8, at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park at 1405 St. Matthews Avenue in Aalto's Restaurant.

Doors open to our members and their guests at 5:00PM. Cocktails and dinner (buffet style or order from the menu) will start at 6:00PM, and the AGM will begin at 7:30PM. We’ll have plenty of our famous raffles featuring some great model railroad equipment, including our popular “arm's length” raffle ticket prizes, where you buy your arm’s length of tickets! Hope to see you all there!