It was worth the trip to visit Larry Skoglund's layout near Morris, Manitoba

Long time WMRC members Gary Stempnick and Marcel Blair watch the Arduino controlled drawbridge rise on Larry Skoglund's layout, located on a farm outside of Morris Manitoba.

For the first time in two years, the WMRC held their monthly meeting outside of Winnipeg. On October 18 they went to a farm outside of Morris, Manitoba to visit Larry Skoglund's spectacular HO layout. Larry's layout was in a large outbuilding attached to his barn, and it was packed with magnificent scenery and many Arduino controlled features. 

Buttons were placed along the layout which controlled the drawbridge, lighting and sound effects, which included thunder and lightning coming from a menacing cloud over a town. The layout also sported an alpine ski resort, complete with a downhill run and an operating ski lift. 

The drawbridge traversed a model of a harbour which featured boats that ran on HO tracks. A magnetic controlled bus rolled down a highway and stopped automatically when the drawbridge was open.

Sadly, this would be the last time this layout was to be displayed, for Larry had just sold his farm and now has to dismantle his layout. It was well worth the trip to go and see it!

Larry's layout features an alpine ski resort with a downhill run and an operating ski lift.

A huge thundercloud threatens this prairie railroad town. Press a button below the layout and you can hear the thunder and see the lightning!

Larry's layout featured a system of tracks recessed under his harbour where boats equipped with HO motors and wheels could sail around it.

Also featured was a hydro dam with lighting and sound effects made to simulate rushing water.

There was also plenty of rail action to see on Larry's layout. Note the use of photographic backdrops which blended seamlessly on his layout.

WMRC to meet in Morris, Manitoba for their October 2025 meeting

We usually meet on the second Friday of the month, but we've changed the date and the location of October's meeting. On Saturday, October 18 we'll be meeting in Morris, Manitoba to view Larry Skoglund's barn layout. There will also be a clinic on the ways you can use arduinos in your model railroad as on Larry's layout.

The meeting starts 1:00 PM. Most members will be meeting at the Santa Lucia restaurant at 111 Main Street in Morris at 11:00 AM for lunch before going to Larry's. Please bring a folding chair instead of a lawn chair due to limited space. We have a few folding chairs if you don't have one. There are no washroom facilities or refreshments available in Larry's barn. Please do not arrive earlier than 12:30 PM at Larry's place.

Ian Plett and Cliff Davidson winners in Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual photo contest

Cliff Davidson won the WMRC's annual model photo contest's model category with this image.

We are pleased to announce that long time members Cliff Davidson and Ian Plett won top prizes in the WMRC's annual photo contest. Cliff won first prize in the model category with his photo of a CP Alco passing though a bridge. Ian won in the prototype division for his image of a CN locomotive backing a unit grain train into the Peterson grain elevator in Morris, Manitoba.

The WMRC has been fortunate to have may excellent photographers among their membership. Some have gone on to win awards in other competitions and have had their works published in many of the major model railroad and rail fanning publications. Congratulations to Cliff and Ian for their fine work!

Ian Plett's entry of a CN locomotive won first prize in the prototype category for 2019.