The South family layout returns to the WMRC's 2026 train show and open house

The South family modular layout will be returning to the WMRC's 2026 open house. This is a truly unique layout as it is entirely a family affair. Former WMRC President Godfrey South created this layout and the rest of his family pitched in to help! Chief among his offsprings assisting him in its operations is Tommy South, who spent his formative years as a WMRC member and is now working as a conductor at CN. 

Come say hello to the South family at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard,  on Saturday, April 18 from 10 to 5 and on Sunday, April 19, from 10 to 4. Admission by donation, Proceeds go to St.Amant.

Everyone had a great time at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2025 train show and open house

The NMRA No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group layout was once again the largest display at the club's open house, and has always been a popular attraction.

What a party! The WMRC had one of its best and most successful open houses ever, thanks to all of our wonderful guests who attended the show. Even though there were record high temperatures on Saturday, that still didn't stop all of Winnipeg's model railroad lovers from coming. And Sunday's plummeting temperatures brought even more people to the show!

We had some great new displays from Manitoba T-Trak and Godfrey South's modular HO layout that proved to be very popular. Old favourites such as the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group layout, Gary Stempnick's portable N gauge layout and the Giraffe Car Man's O gauge layout have people come back year after year to see them again. 

We'd also like to thank the folks at the Prairie Dog Central, the Assiniboine Valley Railway and St. Amant, our charity of choice, for their wonderful displays!

Gino Kost and Fred Headon conducted how-to model railroad clinics all through Saturday and Sunday.

The friendly folks at Manitoba T-Trak displayed for us for the first time, and were very popular.

Tommy South (centre) watches operations of his family's HO modular railway display.

Larry Leavens let everyone have a try operating the John Allen timesaver switching layout.

Cliff Davidson watches Gary Stempnick operate his portable N gauge layout.

This little tyke is having a lot of fun watching the trains go by inside the tunnel of the Giraffe Car Man's portable O gauge display.

 

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual train show and open house is next weekend!

The WMRC's annual open house is happening next weekend! New this year is Godfrey South's modular layout, which was the hit of last year's Manitoba Mega Train Show. We'll also have the NMRA No.1 Northern Division Free-Mo group's HO modular layout, Gary Stempnick's N gauge layout and the Giraffe Car Man's O gauge layout. Test your railroading skills hands on with the John Allen Timesaver! Improve your skills with our modelling clinics and find out what's happening with the Prairie Dog Central this year at their display. Vote for your favourites at our annual model and photo contests! The canteen will serving gourmet air fried hot dogs, chips, donuts and pop. Come on down to the Charleswood Legion on Saturday, April 26 between 10AM and 5PM, and on Sunday, April 28 between 10AM and 4PM. Admission by donation. Proceeds go to support St. Amant.

 

Nick Andrusiak honoured at Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual banquet

WMRC President Godfrey South presented Fran Andrusiak, who delivered a tribute to her late husband, Nick Andrusiak, at the WMRC’s annual banquet last month. 

The late, great Nick Andrusiak was honoured at the WMRC’s annual banquet and awards ceremony, which was held last month at the Canad Inn at Polo Park. The club created a special award for digital prototype railroad photography in his name. 

Nick’s widow, Fran Andrusiak, gave a moving tribute to her late husband at the banquet and presented the award named after Nick to its first recipient, WMRC secretary Cliff Davidson. 

Fran Andrusiak presented the very first Nick Andrusiak memorial award for digital prototype railroad photography to Cliff Davidson at the club’s annual banquet and awards ceremony.

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club elects new President

Godfrey South has been elected President of the WMRC. Godfrey is a relatively new member to the club, and to the country as well, as he and his family emigrated from England just a few years ago. Since he moved to Winnipeg, he and his family have been very enthusiastic members of the club!
His lovely wife Jean has taken over the duties of running the canteen, assisted by their wonderful children - Frances, Tommy and James. Their kids have help run the Kildonan Short Lines modular railway at our spring open house and at the Manitoba Mega Train Show. Tommy and James are enthusiastic modellers who have won prizes in the club's annual model contest competitions.

Three winners for the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's non-revenue model contest

The WMRC's non-revenue model contest category has garnered three winners this year. Aaron Woloshyn won first place for his HO model of a CN rail welding car, seen in the above image. Aaron was the big winner this year, coming away with seven awards in several different categories. Aaron also won third place in this category for his model of a CN rail section car (seen below). He also won the Clark Summers award for this same model.

Godfrey South won second place for his unique model of an HO gauge MOW blacksmith car (also seen below). Richard Mikolayenko won honourable mention for his N gauge model of an MOW car.

The awards for all categories will be presented at the club's annual banquet, which will be held on Friday, May 13 at Aalto's Garden Cafe at the Canad Inns Destination Centre at 1034 Elizabeth Road. The fun starts at 6:00PM, and along with the awards presentation, we'll have plenty of raffles and giveaways. Hope to see you there!

Suzanne Lemon's photos of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2016 spring open house

Who says the younger set aren't interested in model railroading? Tommy, Frances and James South take over the Kildonan Short Lines modular railway while WMRC Program Director Morgan Turney takes a well deserved break.

WMRC spring open house coordinator Suzanne Lemon sent in these great candid photos of our last open house, Held on April 2 and 3 at the Charleswood Legion. Suzanne is a professionally trained, award winning photographer who was also the editor of Railfan Canada magazine. Enjoy!

Jane and Godfrey South on duty at the canteen, serving hot dogs, donuts, coffee, pop and chips to our many hungry guests. 

What are John Sinclair discussing? The meaning life? Einstein's theory of relativity? What to order at Santa Lucia's next Friday? The club was very pleased to have John display some of his marvellous collection of G gauge trains for the first time in 23 years.

Tardis spotted on the Kildonan Short Lines! This was one of two Tardises displayed on layouts by the Doctor Who fans of the club.

All aboard for another open house at the Assiniboine Valley Railway this weekend

WMRC member Godfrey South and his entire family enjoy a ride on the AVR at their last open house.

   All aboard for another open house at the Assiniboine Valley Railway! The fun starts at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 8 and goes on until 5:00 PM! On Sunday, August 9, the hours are from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. It's just two bucks a ride, and you can get a 12 ride pass for only $20! Join in on all the fun at 3001 Roblin Boulevard, just past Assiniboine Park!

A big THANK YOU to all of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's canteen volunteers

    Pictured from left to right are Frances South, Jean South, Tommy South, Godfrey South and James South. The entire South family have been keeping our canteen going for the past year, and their efforts are deeply appreciated!

    The WMRC has been blessed with many volunteers, and it's time to honour the hard working crew that keeps our canteen going at our monthly meeting and at our open house.

    The canteen is a relatively new enterprise in our long history. It was started when the club moved its meeting place to Christ Anglican Church on Corydon Avenue in 1999. Former President Chuck Huard saw that there was a kitchen, and he suggested that we start a canteen to sell pop, coffee and chips. Chuck and his wife Lise, along with Ken and Roberta Anderson, ran the canteen for many years. Chuck and Ken also cooked hot dogs and burgers for us at the the club's Great Canadian Train Shows, which were held every fall at the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute.

    Running the canteen is often a thankless job. The crew not only has to operate the concession stand, but they have to purchase all of the goods, deliver all of the supplies to the meeting, make the coffee, and store the coffee maker and any unsold items at their own own place. They also have to clean up the kitchen after the meeting.

   In 2006, the club started their "annual hot dog dinner" for their December meeting, which wouldn't have been able to have existed at all without the canteen staff.

    After many years of service, the canteen duties were then taken over by Dennis and LuElla Rietze, followed by Andrea leader, and then by the South family.

    The South family are recent arrival from the United Kingdom. They have been very dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers since they joined the club, and we are all very thankful for all of their efforts!

James South is always on hand to put all the ketchup you want on your hot dog!

  

Winnipeg Model Railroad 60th anniversary T-shirts on sale at January's meeting

    Member Godfrey South proudly displays the WMRC he just bought at December's meeting. He bought five of them - one for every member of the family!

    We do have a number of extra shirts that were ordered, and they will be available on a first come, first sold basis. These high quality shirts, with a spiffy logo designed by WMRC blog editor Paul Ullrich, are selling for just $15!

     Our next meeting is on Friday, January 9 at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The meeting starts 7:30 PM. If you didn't order a T-shirt, but still want to buy one, please get there early!

Tommy South wins WMRC 2014 Junior Photographer award

   Tommy South receives the WMRC 2014 Junior Photographer award from President Larry Leavens.

Tommy South, sone of WMRC member Godfrey South, is the recipient of the WMRC 2014 Junior Photographer award. He won the award at the WMRC's annual open house in March, and received his certificate and the plaque at the WMRC's annual banquet, which was held on Friday, May 9, at Aalto's Garden Cafe in Canad Inns Windsor Park.

   Tommy, along with Michael Leader, is one of the club's most promising "next generation" of model railroaders. Way to go, Tommy! Keep up the good work! We're sure that you'll be winning many more awards in the future!

Godfrey South displays miniature live steam at WMRC open house

 One of the big surprises we had at our 2014 open house was from one of our newest and most active members, Godfrey South, who displayed his collection of miniature live steam engines. A lot of model railroaders weren't aware that this genre even existed, and it was quite a thrill to see a live steam locomotive race around Godfrey's track with no electricity, no wires, and no power pack! Photo by Suzanne Lemon.

Morgan Turney, inspecting Godfrey's live miniature steam engine, looks like he's thinking, "How the heck does this thing work?" Photo by Paul Ullrich.

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's open house was a resounding success!

   Wow, what a party! We all had a great time at our open house! We had tons of visitors, we sold a record number of hot dogs, and the canteen made a profit! CBWFT and the Winnipeg Free Press were there! There were also a few surprises to be had, such as Godfrey South's miniature live steam display, Jim Spiers multi - layered O gauge Lionel "1960's" display and Suzanne Lemon's Z scale layout - placed right in the middle of the Kildonan Short Lines modular railway's returning loop!

     Thanks to everyone who showed up, and thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make this event  at Westworth United Church  great success! Thanks to the volunteers at St.Amant, who displayed all weekend. A portion of the proceeds from our show will go to support  St.Amant.

Godfrey South's presentation at our January meeting was a hit!

   Godfrey South, one of our newest but most active members, delivered a remarkable presentation at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's meeting, which was held On January 10, 2013 at Westworth United Church.

   Godfrey showed how he and a group of dedicated rail fans resurrected a two foot narrow gauge industrial rail line in his native Britain. The group rebuilt a beautiful steam engine from what was literally a pile of rusty scrap metal. Godfrey, who is a blacksmith by trade, was heavily involved in re-tooling many missing parts.

   The presentation not only included many images documenting the rebuilding of the engine from start to finish, but also included a video of the engine all fired up and rolling down the track!

   The second presentation was by WMRC Secretary Cliff Davidson, titled "Cliff's Western Canadian Adventures", which documented his trip to Calgary last year. Cliff, who knows rural Saskatchewan like the back of his hand, took us way off the Trans Canada Highway and into a rarely seen land where grain elevators still exist.

    There are quite a few of these prairie giants around. Some are abandoned, but many still serving their communities. Some are standing next to former rail lines that were torn up long ago. Cliff took several images of trains passing them by that were hauling nothing but oil tankers, a sure sign of the times.

   Below are several images from Godfrey's excellent presentation. Good work, Godfrey!

This is what they started with. Can you imagine building a locomotive from this?

Progress was slow but steady. It's really coming together now!

It's almost finished! All it needs now is a good paint job.

Success! A beautiful restoration job, and well worth the effort!