Winnipeg Model Railroad Club mourns passing of telegraph operator Dan Kollesavich

Dan Kollesavich demonstrates Morse Code at the WMRC's meeting on November  8, 2013 

Our good friend Dan Kollesavich has died. Dan will always be remembered as Winnipeg's "Morse Code Guy". He often held Morse Code and telegraph demonstrations at the Winnipeg Railway Museum's Railway Days, The WMRC's Great Canadian Train Show and the Manitoba Mega Train Show. 

He will be fondly remembered at the WMRC for his excellent presentation on the history and usage of the telegraph at the club's meeting on November 8, 2013. Dan, who started working for CP Rail in the 1950's, also regaled us with his experiences of working for CP Rail as a station master in various rural communities in Manitoba and northern Ontario.  Dan also delighted the audience by clicking out "Winnipeg Model Railroad Club" in morse code!

It's not going to be the same going to Railway Days and the Manitoba Mega Train Show and not seeing Dan happily clicking away at his telegraph.

There is no Great Canadian Train Show at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute this year

Margaret Ullrich, the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's public relations person, has noticed an unusual amount of activity on her events blog, Winnipeg is Better than Chocolate, concerning the WMRC's Great Canadian Train Show. Although the WMRC membership is aware that this show is not taking place, the general public may not be.

The Great Canadian Train show has been cancelled indefinitely. The WMRC has partnered this year with the Manitoba Mega Train Show, which will be held October 19 and 20 at the Canlan Ice Sports Centre, 1871 Ellice Avenue. The show's hours are from 9AM to 5PM both Saturday and Sunday. There is no train show at the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute this year. The Manitoba Mega Train Show is the only train show that is happening this fall.