Felix Lesiuk's springtime rail fanning reaps a harvest of great shots

Felix Lesiuk always has had a great eye for the unique rail fanning shot. Pictured above is a coal train coming down the track with a strong wind blowing an enormous cloud of coal dust from the open hoppers. He also captured a unique CP consist featuring a Milwaukee Road passenger car, a bunk car and a converted heavyweight passenger car seen outside of Rosser. He has also taken notice of the proliferation of Union Pacific motive power recently seen on the CP line. 

 

Five great entries for the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual photo contest's prototype category

 WMRC members Cliff Davidson, Christopher Robinson and Dave Downie submitted these great entries for the club's annual photo contest in the prototype category at our AGM, which was held via Zoom on May 14.

Cliff caught this striking image of a CP lash up at sunset (pictured above). He also took this photo of a CP freight rolling under the overpass at Portage La Prairie (pictured below). WMRC program director Dave Downie submitted photos of a structure in Beacon, New York that he took in 1980. He also sent in this image of the Milwaukee Road's famous observation car when it passed through Portage in 2007. Christopher Robinson submitted this pastoral scene of a turnout at a lakeside. Great work, guys!

Exclusive photos of the Canadian Pacific's 2816 excursion train in 2007

 

For one of our monthly photo displays this season Dave Downie dug into his files and submitted these images of the legendary CP 2816 excursion train which traveled through Manitoba from Calgary on its way to Milwaukee and Chicago in 2007. 

The trip was sponsored by CP Rail and the Friends of the 261, a Minneapolis based group which has restored and owns the Milwaukee Road's 261 steamer and a fleet of the famous Hiawatha passenger cars.   

The excursion train featured a mixed consist of vintage restored CP and Milwaukee Road passenger cars, including the famous sky top lounge Cedar Rapids observation car.  The 2816 double headed with the 261 from Minneapolis to La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Two great programs at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's January event

The fabulous Frederick and Gerrit Braun, creators of Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland, pose wearing the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 60th anniversary T-shirts. The shirts were presented to the staff at Miniatur Wunderland by our own Dave Downie, who visited Hamburg a few years ago.

We have two great programs for our first meeting of 2020! First on tap is a trip to Chicago and Milwaukee in 1980. Highlights include a glimpse of the White Pines Model Railroad Club. See the Milwaukee Road's yard and shop after the railroad shut down.

Then it's off to Miniatur Wunderland! Learn how they started and watch the building and operating of the world's largest model railroad. See how creativity, model building and technology are all brought together. This is part one of a two part series.

The fun starts on Friday, January 10 at 7:30PM at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The canteen will be open, and we'll have our monthly model and photo display, as well as our 50/50 draw. Not a member? Not a problem! Guests are always warmly welcomed.

Felix Lesiuk wins Winnipeg Model railroad Club's monthly photo contest for January

Long time WMRC member Felix Lesiuk was the winner of the club's monthly photo contest this January for this photo he took of a former Milwaukee Road station. The theme for January's photo contest was "a railway item that needs a fresh coat of paint". There were six entries for this month's contest. The winner of the club's monthly photo contest receives a cash prize and has their winning image published on the cover of The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC, for that month.

Felix Lesiuk is a long time member of the WMRC. He is also President of WinNtrak, one of Western Canada's largest N scale modular group. He has won many awards for his photography over the years.

The theme for February's contest is "Prairie Sentinels (or parts there of)". The deadline for this contest is midnight, February 2. Send all entires to Lantern Editor Robert Weaver at weaverflowers@gmail.com.

Selkirk Model Railroad Association holds train show on Saturday, November 28

A huge Milwaukee Road passenger train pulled by two "Little Joes" roll down the Selkirk Model Railroad Association's O gauge layout.

Not a football fan? Tired of shopping on black Friday weekend? Don't care for the Santa Claus parade? Then come to Selkirk for the Selkirk Model Railroad Association's train show this Saturday!
You'll see lots of rail action with three operating layouts in O, HO and N gauge! The hours are from 10am to 4pm, and you can find them at 217 Clandeboye Avenue in Selkirk. Admission charge for adults is $4.00. Ages 12-16, $3.00. Free admission for everyone under 12!