The WMRC's 2025 spring open house and train show is happening on April 26 and 27

All aboard for the WMRC’s annual open house and train show! It’s happening on April 26 and 27 at the Charleswood Legion at 6003 Roblin Boulevard, and it’s chock full of railroading fun! We’ll have several operating layouts in HO, O, N gauge and T Track, our annual model and photo contest and how-to demonstrations by our finest model railroaders. 

Test your model railroad switching skills with the John Allen time saver! Our canteen will be serving gourmet air fried hot dogs, donuts, chips, coffee and pop. Hours are from 10AM to 5PM on Saturday and from 10AM to 4PM on Sunday. Admission by donation. Proceeds go to support St. Amant.

 

Memories of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2018 Spring open house

WMRC Gateway Western Superintendent Gino Kost mans the popular interactive John Allen Timesaver layout at the club's 2018 spring open house and train show.

What a party! We had a great turnout at our spring open house and train show this year, and we raised twice the amount of funds that we raised in 2017! Much thanks to all of our displayers and volunteers who worked so hard to make this show a resounding success. Everyone had a great time, and we all look forward to seeing all of you next spring!

NMRA No. 1 Northern Division Superintendent Ian Plett and Neil Carlton run the division's Free-Mo layout, which was the largest operating display at the show.

Marcel Blair was kept busy running John Sinclair's collection of G gauge trolley and streetcars.

Robert Weaver ran a modelling clinic for both days during the show. 

WMRC blog editor and Social Media Executive Paul Ullrich (a.k.a "The giraffe car man") happily ran his very popular and kid-friendly Lionel O gauge portable layout all weekend.

The NMRA's No. 1 Northern Division's third annual train meet

   The NMRA's No. 1 Northern Division held their third annual train meet on Saturday, November 2 at Whyte Ridge Baptist Church in Winnipeg. This year, the group focused on "hands-on" clinics and demonstrations. Winnipeg Model Railroad Club President Larry Leavens showed how to make static grass by using an improvised hand held bug zapper that you could buy at any home improvement store for under ten dollars (genuine static grass makers usually sell for well over ten times that much).

   WMRC acting program director and Canadian Railway Modeller publisher Morgan Turney demonstrated how to make realistic rock faces with ceiling tile. No. 1 Northern superintendent Dennis Rietze conducted a clinic on DCC. A workshop on how to ballast a track was conducted, with a prize of a gift certificate from a local hobby shop for who did the best job.

   Members could also compete for a hobby shop gift certificate using a John Allen Style "time-saver" module to see who could shunt freight cars to their assigned destination the fastest. The winner was the No.1 Northern's youngest member, 10 year old Michael leader, who beat most of our veteran members by a very wide margin!

    Below is the first in a series of photos taken at this event. Others will be published in future posts.

    

 Larry Leavens shows Ian Plett how to transform an inexpensive bug zapper into a static grass maker.

Larry Leavens shows Morgan Turney how to rewire the bug zapper.

Michael Leader tries his hand with Larry's DIY static grass maker.