The NMRA No.1 Northern Free-mo group returns to the WMRC 2026 train show and open house

The NMRA No.1 Northern Division Free-Mo group will be returning to the WMRC's 2026 train show and open house. The group is known for having the largest display at the Manitoba Mega Train Show (now the Manitoba Hobby Expo) and they'll have the largest layout at our show too! 

Come on down and see their spectacular layout in action at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard between 10 and 5 on Saturday, April 18 and on Sunday, April 19 between 10 and 4. Admission by donation. Proceeds go to St.Amant.

WinNtrak returns to the Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo

Those friendly folks over at WinNtrak, operators of Manitoba's largest N gauge modular railway, will be returning to the Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo. The group has long been a staple of the show, exhibiting since the start of the Manitoba Mega Train Show. The group exhibits regularly at the Garden City Shopping Centre, Kildonan Place, Grant Park Shopping Centre, the Clearspring Centre in Steinbach and the German Christmas Market at Fort Garry Place.

Come see them, and the 12 other layouts, the 60 vendors and the 11 hobby displays at the Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo on September 27 between 9 and 5, and on September 28 between 9 and 4 at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue. General admission is $12. Youths ages four to 12 get in for six bucks. Kids three years old and under get in for free!

The Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo is eight weeks away

The Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo is just eight weeks away! It's is presented by the same friendly folks who brought you the Manitoba Mega Train Hobby Show and Sale.

This event replaces the Mega Train Show. This show is different, but in many ways it's still the same as before. There is no more ride-on train, but there will be lots of model railroad layouts running and plenty of vendors selling all sorts of model railroad equipment in all gauges.

The show has expanded to include all sorts of hobbies such as the Manitoba Doll Club, slot car racing and hot wheels! The Manitoba Lego Users Group will be back. Get a chance to fly a simulator model plane! Join the Lego building competition for a chance to win a prize, and put your name in for the Thomas the Tank Engine HO train set door prize!

It all takes place at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue, on Saturday, September 27 between nine and five and on Sunday, September 28 between nine and four. Admission is 12 bucks, youths 4-12 get in for six bucks, and kids under three get in for free. Mark your calendars now!

The Manitoba Mega Train Show is now the Manitoba Train and Family Expo

 The Manitoba Mega Train Show has now become the Manitoba Train and Family Expo. There still will be plenty of trains to see, and there will be lots of other hobbies on display too!

The ride-on mega train is gone and has been replaced by a wide variety of hobbies, including slot car racing, hot wheels, and a display from the Manitoba Doll Club. The Manitoba Lego Users Group (MBLUG) will return with their great Lego exhibit and a play area for the children. Visitors will get a chance to fly a simulator of a model plane.

Join the Lego building competition for a chance to win a prize, and don’t forget to put your name in for the door prize of a ready to run Thomas the Tank Engine HO train set! There will be face painting and many vendors selling all sort of model railroad equipment in all gauges.

This great fun family event takes place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue. General admission is $12.00. Youths ages 4 to 12 get in for $6.00. Kids three years of age and under get in for free! Hours are from 9 to 5 on Saturday and from 9 to 4 on Sunday. 

 

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.

 

Winner of the Thomas the Tank Engine train set draw at the Manitoba Mega Train Show announced

The winner of the Thomas the Tank Engine HO train set draw from this year’s Manitoba Mega Train Show was Denni Rose, which she presented to her daughter. For several years the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club has given away a Thomas set in a draw at the Manitoba Mega Train Show. All you have to do is pay admission to the Manitoba Mega Train Hobby Show and Sale to get your draw ticket! But you'll have to wait until next September's show.
 

Thanks to everyone to attened the 2024 Manitoba Mega Train Show

 

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club wishes to extend a big THANK YOU to all of the happy people who attended the 2024 Manitoba Mega Train Show this past weekend! We had just under 2400 guests, and everyone had a great time! 

We also would like to thank all of the volunteers who made this show a success. It's not an easy task setting up and taking down the Mega Train ride, not tot mention those who manned the admissions desk  and helped out at the WMRC sales table.

The club made a near record amount of sales of used model railroad equipment this year at the WMRC sales table, and the proceeds will go to St. Amant, our charity of choice. 

The Manitoba Mega Train Show will be back next year at the end of September. Hope to see you all there!

The Manitoba Mega Train Show is on this weekend!

Heads up, everyone! The Manitoba Mega Train Show is on this weekend! Come on down to Red River Exhibition Place 3977 Portage Avenue and feast your eyes on 40,000 square feet of trains, trains and more trains! Hours are from 9 to 5 on Saturday and from 9 to 4 on Sunday. General admission is just 12 bucks. Youths ages 4 to 12 get in for six bucks, Kid under three get in for free!
 

Just two weeks left to go for the Manitoba Mega Train Show!

 

There's only two weeks left to go before the Manitoba Mega Train Show opens, and it's going to be bigger than ever! There will be 15 operating layouts, a slot car drag race set up, a Barbie display by the Manitoba Doll Club, a huge Lego display by Manitoba LUG, unlimited free rides on the Mega Train, remote control boats, a Meccano display and lots of vendors selling model railroad equipment in all scales!

So come on down to Red River Exhibition Place on Saturday, September 28 between 9AM to 5PM and on Sunday, September 29 from 9AM to 4PM and have the time of your life! General admission is $12. Youths 4-12 get in for six bucks. Kids under the age of three get in for free!

Take a virtual tour of the 2024 NMRA Surfliner convention with John Bate

 

At our September meeting WMRC President John Bate will take us on a virtual tour of the 2024 NMRA Surfliner national convention, which he attended in Long Beach, California this August.  If you've never been to a NMRA national convention, then this is the place to be! There's nothing like an NMRA national convention. It has to be seen to be believed! 

John will also showcase his visit the California State Railroad Museum, where he viewed "The Magic of Scale Model Railroading" display, which contains many interesting and unique model railroad artifacts and displays. 

There will also be an update on the upcoming Manitoba Mega Train Show, which will be held at Red River Exhibition Place on September 28 and 29.  It's also the best time to renew your membership, or become a new member!

The fun starts at 7:30PM on Friday, September 13 at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The canteen will be open, and we will have our usual model and photo display, plus our 50-50 draw. 

The 2024 Manitoba Mega Train Show is just seven weeks away

The Manitoba Mega Train Show, the biggest train show between Toronto and Calgary, is only seven weeks away! Every year the show attracts more and more guests, and we're looking forward to having a record breaking attendance this year! 

The Mega Train will be up and running, along with several great modular layouts such as WinNTrak and the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division Free-Mo Group. There will also be displays from Manitoba Lego Users Group, a Geotrax and a Meccano display, remote control boats and military miniatures.

There will also be many vendors with a huge variety of model railroad equipment in all scales to sell. There were so many deals made last year that the ATM's at the Red River Exhibition Place ran out of money and had to be refilled!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29! The doors open at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue at 9AM and close at 5PM on Saturday. On Sunday they're open from 9AM to 4PM. General admission is $12. Youths ages 4 to 12 get in for six bucks. Kids under three get in for free!
 

Manitoba T-Trak is the newest modular railway club in town

 The crew of Manitoba T-Track are seen displaying at the Frog and Diamond's open house on July 6.

There’s a new N gauge modular railway group in town, and they’re looking good! Manitoba T-Trak was formed last year by Johannie Matusalem, Eric Dawson and Sean Morris.

This is not a group that has huge, hulking modules that have to be transported by truck and trailer and take several people hours to set up. T-Trak modules are very small. A standard module is only 12” wide, and the length can vary from 8 1/2” to 14 3/8”. A single module an easily fit into a briefcase. A typical modular display can easily be set up and run on a banquet table.

The group has already displayed at he WMRC’s annual spring open house and at the Frog And Diamond Hobbyworks open house this summer. They’re also going to be setting up at the Manitoba Mega Train Show in September. So drop by and take a look at this truly unique modular group when you go to Mega Train!

 

 

This corner module is just 14 3/8" square. The module next to it measures 12" x 14 3/8".

 

 

 

T-Track member Johannie Matusalem is justifiably proud of this farm module that she created. She has plans to make it an alien encounter theme!

 

 

The entire modular layout fits easily on a banquet table.
 

 

 

 

Gino builds a retro bus depot

Long time member and WMRC Manitoba Mega Train Show chair Gino Kost surprised us at our February meeting with his scratch built model of a bus depot. Gino submitted this model for the club's monthly model display.

Gino built this model entirely out of spare pieces that he had in his parts bin. The brick walls were scratch built. Gino says that it's a work in progress, but it looks pretty good just as it is right now!
 

Dannele Hueging is the winner of theThomas the Tank Engine train set door prize at the Manitoba Mega Train Show

The lucky winner of the Manitoba Mega Train Show door prize was Dannele Hueging, whose nephew John will be the excited recipient of the Thomas the Tank Engine train set. Congratulations to Dannele and John!

WMRC president John Bate dropped off the set at Dannele's place. Dannele sent us these two images of herself and of her nephew at the Manitoba Mega Train Show. 

Dannele wrote, "After chatting with John Bate I'm sending a photo of our nephew John and I at the train show. He will be the lucky recipient of this set. He is an avid train enthusiast, and has a couple different sets on the go with his dad. But not this one yet, he will be thrilled!"

 

 

The 2023 Manitoba Mega Train Show is only one week away

Can you believe it? The Manitoba Mega Train Show is only a week away! Come on down to Red River Exhibition Place on Saturday, September 30 from 9AM to 5PM and on Sunday, October 1 from 9AM to 4PM to see the biggest train show between Toronto and Calgary! 

There will be tons of exhibits, vendors selling model railroad equipment in all gauges, and free unlimited rides on the Mega Train! Adult admission is $10. Youths 4 to 12 get in for $5. Kids 3 and under get in for free!
 

Check out this video of what may be the world's largest Geotrax layout from last year's Manitoba Mega Train Show

The 2023 Manitoba Mega Train Show is just over two weeks away, so while you're waiting you can watch this neat video of one of their best displays. It just might be the world's largest Geotrax layout! 

Geotrax is a toy train system made by Fisher Price which ran from 2003 to 2018. This layout is featured on You Tube's "Travels with Bill" channel, which has over 1,400 subscribers. This video has had over 5,600 views! You can check out this layout by clicking here.

The Manitoba Mega Train Show is the largest train show between Toronto and Calgary. Join the thousands of people who will attend the show on September 30 and October 1 at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue. Hours are from 9 to 5 on Saturday. September 30 and from 9 to 4 on Sunday, October 1. Come see all of the displays, including this Geotrax layout, and check out all of the vendors for some great model railroad bargains!

Adult admission is $10. Youths ages 4 to 12 get in for five bucks. Kids three years old and under get in for free!
 

The 2023 Manitoba Mega Train Show is just two months away!

Heads up, everyone! The Manitoba Mega Train Show is only two months away! It's the biggest train show between Toronto and Calgary, and it's happening on September 30 and October 1. Join the thousands of people who attend the show every year at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue, for trains, trains and more trains! Hours are from 9 to 5 on Saturday. September 30 and from 9 to 4 on Sunday, October 1. There will be lots of displays and plenty of vendors, so be sure to bring your wallets for lots of model train bargains!
 

Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks to hold a customer appreciation day on July 8

The Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks is holding a customer appreciation day on Saturday, July 8. The store, which specializes in new and used HO and N gauge model railroad equipment, debuted at last year’s Manitoba Mega Train Show and opened its shop at 301 Bowman Avenue in Elmwood shortly afterwards. They also carry model airplane kits and supplies.

The Frog and Diamond is an advertiser in The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC. They’re open from 10AM to 8PM on Mondays, and from 10AM to 5PM Tuesday to Saturday. Their phone number is 204-477-9259, email address is tony@froganddiamond.ca
 

New hobby shop opening in Winnipeg on October 1

Great news! A new hobby shop specializing in model trains is opening in Winnipeg on Saturday, October 1. It's called The Frog and Diamond, and that may sound like an English pub, but it's an inside joke for model railroaders and rail fans. 

This is the first hobby shop of its kind in decades to open in Winnipeg. Many of you might've stopped by his table at the Manitoba Mega Train Show to find out about the shop and perhaps buy a few items that they had for sale. Be sure to be at the grand opening of his store on October 1! It's  at 301 Bowman Avenue, just east of Henderson Highway, in beautiful downtown Elmwood. Their hours are from 10 to 5.
 

Help the Winnipeg Railway Museum by buying a membership at the Manitoba Mega Train Show

This year at the Manitoba Mega train Show you can buy a membership for the Midwest Rail Association, which owns and operates the  Winnipeg Railway Museum. The Manitoba Mega Train Show, which is sponsored by the museum this year, has pledged to contribute $1,000 to the museum’s cause. So please buy a membership! It costs only 40 bucks. It’s a great club, and you’ll be supporting a great cause.