Public meeting on rail relocation held at the Norwood Community Club

  Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy is seen addressing the audience concerning rail          relocation at the Norwood Community Club on November 18, 2025.

This article was originally published in the January 2026 issue of The Lantern, the official publication of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club.

By Neil Carleton

The province of Manitoba has started a consultation process on how and when rail right of way and yards can be moved.

Lloyd Axworthy, a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister has been hired to head the study. As minister of transport he was involved with the relocation of the rail yard that became The Forks. 

The group includes Barry Prentice, professor of Supply Chain Management a University of Manitoba and Director of the Transport Institute; Jino Distasio, professor in the department of geography at the University of Winnipeg and director of the Institute of Urban Studies.

The group also includes lawyer Mary-Jane Bennett, who was on the Canadian Transportation Agency and recently involved in relocation of the BNSF cross boarder rail relocation in the Vancouver area, Jennifer Moore Rattray, Chief Executive Officer of Marymound. In the past she has worked with the Southern Chiefs organization and was a CBC journalist.

There will be six meetings in the city, held in areas that are affected by rail trackage.

The outline for the study is available online at;

https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20252026/rail-study-report-2026.pdf

The report can also be found by searching Government of Manitoba and look for Winnipeg Rail Relocation Study. 

When relocation is mentioned the first thing people think of is the Canadian Pacific yards that isolate the north end of Winnipeg. While a significant project Winnipeg also has two other class one railways that slice through the city.

Relocation also applies to the CN mainline, BNSF lines and the smaller Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway. The CN Symington yards are also in consideration, as the residential sprawl moves in that direction.

I attended the presentation held at the Norwood Community Club at which the St. Boniface area was considered.

Interesting to note that one third of St. Boniface is the “Mission Industrial area”. This includes the former stockyards, a tank farm and dismantled oil refinery, the busy automobile delivery yard and some rail served industries. The area is crisscrossed by the CPKC, CN and GWWD. Marion Street traffic is regularly stopped at any of three or four crossings.

When you look at the map of the area it there is a spaghetti of tracks and crossings.

It was interesting to hear concerns from some of the over 40 people at the meeting.

One woman wondered if the hump yard at Symington could be closed, ‘it makes a lot of noise’. Symington is not included in the outline for the consultation. At over 700 acres it would be a formidable project to move. By comparison the CPKC yard in the north end is less than 300 acres.

An engineer attending said he had a part in closing the Arlington Bridge. His observation was removing he CPKC yard would open up significant real estate but wondered if the city has the water and sewage capacity for so much new housing? He also pointed out that rerouting the mainlines would still require bridges to cross rivers and the floodway. There would continue to be many crossings of main and rural highways.

Drs. Axworthy, Distasio and Prentice listened closely to all the comments and responded as best they could.

While relocating tracks and yards is the starting point, the final goal is the development that would follow.

An example given is the 4 kilometres of abandoned track in the Brooklands area; as an example of a recreational conversion. The possibility of commuter rail to the Interlake on the exisiting underused line was discussed, as was rail transit south on the Emerson sub right-of-way to open that area for commuter rail traffic.

Repurposed rail lines crossing Winnipeg could also be considered for Light Rail transit, recreation or housing.

There will be a large relocation symposium in the early spring, with a final report published shortly after.

This graphic depicts current railway lines in the St. Boniface area.

Neil Carleton uses 3D printing to make replacement gears

          The Samhongsa gas electric combine Neil Carleton bought needed gear replacements.            

By Neil Carleton

This article originally appeared in The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC.

I bought a brass Samhongsa gas electric combine from the estate of Morgan Turney. It was sold as “needing work” but it was such a well made model that I had to buy it. On the track it would go about 3 inches and stop, when reversed, 3 inches back.

The model has one powered truck with a universal connected to the motor. When disconnected the motor ran smoothly with no issues. On removal of the bottom cover plate and opening the gear tower I found three plastic gears meshing to brass gears. On close inspection, all three were cracked, and they jammed when the crack rolled around. The gears are quite small and two different sized axels. 

NorthWest Shortline has hundreds of replacement gears and some they recommended, but would not let me send the damaged ones to make sure. Each new gear was over US$30 and not easily returnable. A friend who is not an active model railroader wondered if 3-D printing was a solution.

I contacted Darrell Brownlee, who has printed some vehicles and some other items for me. He said he knew what to do, so I got the cracked gears to him. In short order he returned new gears, with lots of spares. I fit them in and they worked! 

Then I realized I could not tighten the gear tower sufficiently to remove some gear slop when going forward, causing excess noise.

It appeared that the machine screws were bottoming out so I spoke to Darrell and with the measurements I sent him, he was able to print extremely small washers. The washers were various thicknesses but the winner was two about the thickness of paper.

Gas electric now runs smoothly in both directions. Next step is to add DCC and then paint and decal the model.

Close up of the gear tower with the nylon gears removed.

The original nylon gears, which were cracked.

The 3D printed replacement gears and washers made by Darrell Brownleee.

 

Installing powered frogs by Neil Carleton

 This article, written by Neil Carleton,  was originally published in The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC. This is the first of many articles originally published in The Lantern that will be posted on this site.

Neil Carleton wins first place in three categories

Neil Carleton (L) is seen being presented the award in the special event - open load category by model contest chair Marvin Fetch at the WMRC's AGM and annual banquet held in May.

Long time WMRC member Neil Carleton won first place in three categories in the club’s 2025 model contest, which was held at our spring open house and train show. 

Neil won first place in the freight car category for his model of a CP brass caboose. He also won first place in the display category for his model of a GMC fire pumper. He won first place in the special event - open load category for his model of a flat car with figurines. 

Neil is a gifted modeller who has won many awards over the years in numerous categories. Members of the club and the many visitors to our annual open houses always look forward to viewing his latest creations. Congratulations, Neil!

Neil won first place in the freight car category for his model of a brass CP caboose.

Neil also won first place in the display category for his model of a GMC fire pumper.

Neil won first place in the special event competition for his model of a flat car with figurines.

 

Neil Carleton models a Jordan Highway Miniatures Kit of a Railway Express truck

 

Neil Carleton brought in this exquisitely detailed Jordan Highway Miniatures Kit of a Railway Express Agency truck to the club’s monthly model display at our last meeting, held at the Charleswood Legion on November 15.

Neil used Styrene solvent to assemble the piece and CA glue for the smaller parts. He airbrushed it with Tamyia primer, then sprayed and brush painted it, applied decals and sprayed it with Vallejo satin  varnish. 

Jordan kits do not have a tab and slot or a pin and hole construction, and Neil found that it was a challenge to assemble. The rear axle was too long, so Neil drilled it out and replaced it with a short piece of wire. The front bumper mounts were too short, and he also replaced them with wire. Neil used Dspiae chrome paint and used it on the radiator trim.

Neil Carleton multiple award winner for his campground diorama

Neil Carleton (L) is seen receiving the award for best in show for his Prairie Grove Campground diorama from Marvin Fetch at the WMRC's AGM and annual banquet held on May 9.

Neil Carleton won two awards for his Prairie Grove Campground diorama at the WMRC’s annual open house and train show. The awards were presented to him at the club’s AGM and annual banquet held on May 9.

Neil won best in show for his diorama he submitted in the special event category, which was to create a diorama on a 9x12 picture frame. He also won the club’s first people’s choice award for the same model. This award, initiated by former WMRC secretary Marvin Fetch, let visitors to the club’s open house vote for their favourite model. Neil won hands down in this category. Marvin noticed that during the voting the visitors were very impressed with Neil’s creative use of LED lighting on his diorama. 

Neil Carleton also received the club's very first people's choice popular vote award for the same diorama.

 

 

Neil packed a lot of detail inside a picture frame! 

A closeup of the campground scene on Neil's diorama.

 
 

Neil Carleton wins best in show model award at the WMRC's annual open house

 Neil Carleton won the best in show award for his model of a camp site and beach in the special event category at the WMRC's annual spring open house and train show. The event was held on April 20 and 21 at the Charleswood Legion. The special event this year was to build a diorama on a picture frame no larger than 9" X 12". Congratulations, Neil!

 

Neil Carleton builds a model of a slide-in truck camper

Neil Carleton submitted this model of a  GC Laser HO-scale truck bed camper kit to the WMRC’s monthly model display at our March meeting.  

The parts were laser cut out of card stock with clear plastic for windows. Curtains were painted on back of the windows. The camper was assembled using white glue and canopy cement. Stripes were added using coloured ink pens.

The camper was painted with a flat clear acrylic. The interior is lit with a warm LED, including a bridge rectifier. The finished model was installed in a Classic Metals Works vintage pickup truck. The truck was weathered with Pan Pastels.

Highlights from the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club’s 2023 Clinic Carnival

Dwight Kjartanson shows how a signal works on a real railroad by using 1/8 scale turnout points and signal masts from the Assiniboine Valley Railway.

Everyone had a great time at the WMRC’s Clinic Carnival held on December 8. We had four great clinics along with WMRC President John Bate, who handed out freshly minted NMRA cards to the members and navigated us through the NMRA website.

Our annual Christmas hot banquet was also held that night, and canteen operator Mark McLellan did a sterling job air frying all of those hot dogs for us while handing out a well stocked supply of donuts, chips and pop.

Gino Kost operates a G scale locomotive as he discusses the pros and cons of garden railroading in Manitoba.

WMRC Past President Larry Leavens shows Gary Stempnick the sweet science of freight car maintenance.

 

 

Past President Wayne Hildsen checks out Neil Carelton’s display on how to build a Free-Mo module. 

 

WMRC President John Bate hands an envelope containing an NMRA membership card to Dwight Kjartanson.
 

 
 

 

 

All aboard for the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual clinic carnival and holiday hot dog banquet

It's time once again for the WMRC's annual clinic carnival and holiday hot dog banquet! We have a great line-up of clinics featuring the talents of Winnipeg's top modellers, including:

• Neil Carlton on how to build a free-mo module.
• Larry Leavens on freight car maintenance.
• Dwight Kjartanson on how a signal works on a real railroad using 1/8 scale turnouts points and signal masts.
• Gino Kost on the pros and cons of garden railroading in Manitoba.
• John Bate on everything you need to know about the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). And what's included in your membership.  

• Your NMRA membership cards will be available for pick-up at the December meeting.

  Of course, we will also be holding our famous annual holiday hot dog banquet. Feast on gourmet air fired hot dogs lovingly prepared by our expert tube steak chef Mark McLellan with chips, pop and donuts while attending the clinic carnival!

  The fun starts on Friday, December 8 at 7:30PM in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. There will be no photo or model display or 50/50 draw at this meeting. The room will be open at 6:00PM, so feel free to come early and chat and help set up the room. Don't forget to bring a tin for the bin!
  

Check out Neil Carleton’s brass model of a Canadian Pacific caboose

Long time WMRC member Neil Carleton submitted his model of a brass CP Rail caboose at November’s meeting. Brass models were popular in the 50’s and 60’s, and it is quite a rarity these days to see someone modelling brass. It’s much more difficult to do, and brass is not as pliable or forgiving as plastic.

Flat etched pieces of the kit were cut and trimmed, the soldered following the directions. Handrails, railings and ladders were built using brass wire and etched parts.

Neil’s model is still a work in progress. He plans to prime and paint the car, add window glazing and install no-flicker LED light modules. 

 
 

Winners of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual photo and model contests

 

Felix Lesiuk received the award for best prototype photo from Marvin Fetch.

WMRC Secretary Marvin Fetch sure was kept busy handing out awards at the club’s AGM and banquet! Felix Lesiuk is seen winning the Nick Andrusiak Memorial award for best digital prototype photo. Luca Matyas won the Peter Abel Memorial award for photo special event. Barrie Creran won for structures for his model of a UGG grain elevator. He also won for best in show. Neil Carleton won The Lantern award and he also won first prize in the non-revenue category for his model of a crane. Congratulations to all of them!

Luca Matyas received the Peter Abel award for photo special event.

 

Barrie Creran received awards for structures and best in show.

 

Neil Carleton received The Lantern award and the award in the non-revenue model category.

 

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club holds first Clinic Carnival in two years

 Come one, come all to the WMRC’s first clinic carnival in two years! The fun begins on Friday, December 10, at 7:00 PM at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The starting time of our meetings has been permanently changed from 7:30 to 7:00.
   We will also be holding our Christmas Hot Dog Banquet, so bring your appetites! We have a great line up of Winnipeg’s finest model railroaders who will demonstrate their skills.
        
        Robert Weaver – Photo Editing: Robert is amassing a collection of old photos, slides and negatives. He will show how he tackles the job to improve the quality of the images. Robert will explain the software that he uses.
        Marcel Blair – Resurrecting an Alco Models Brass Diesel: Marcel will show how he gets an old brass diesel model to run again. Replacement parts for a 40 year old model need to be found and adapted to fit. Here is your opportunity to learn how you can rebuild it!
        John Bate – Fast Tracks turnouts: John is a N Scale modeller who builds his turnouts using Fast Tracks jigs. Whether you model in N, HO or O Scale, if you want to build your own turnouts, the Fast Tracks system will work for you. A demonstration of using servo motors to control the turnouts will also be done.
        Larry Leavens - Freight Car Tune Up: What do you do with that $5 prize freight car you bought at Mega Train when it will not stay on the rails? A little tune up is needed. Couplers, correct weight and new wheel sets will greatly improve the performance of any rail car. Most ready to run cars are too light and might derail on curves or while being pushed through a turnout. The NMRA has a standard weight practice that will keep them on the rails. The Kadee coupler has become the standard coupler for HO today. For most cars it’s a simple swap, but for others it may take some work. Replacing plastic wheel sets with metal ones will greatly improve the operation.    
        Neil Carleton – Weathering: Neil will show how you can weather your rolling stock and structures using pan pastels and AK pencils. He'll have some models that he's working on so you can see his technique.
        Tyler Fedoroshyn – Model Building: Tyler will show samples of custom detailed and weathered locomotives along with 3D printed detail parts that he's created with his 3D Resin Printer. Tyler will also display an early winter scene in a freelanced village.
        
              The Legion requires proof of full vaccination for entry. Masks will be required at the meeting. Please bring a "tin for the bin" for Winnipeg Harvest. We will have a photo display, but there will be no model display.  If you can’t make it, please email us at wmrc.trainclub@gmail.com and we’ll send you a link. Only the business portion of the meeting will be broadcast on Zoom.
 

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club members submit structures they've modelled for the club's monthly photo display

Besides the usual rail fan photos, some of our members have also sent in images of the structures they’ve made for the club’s monthly photo display.

Ed Sibley sent in a photo of one of the structures on his layout, the Sibley Short Line Railroad. His scratch built lumber yard displays his considerable skills as a modeller.

Neil Carleton sent in one of his model, which is a Bar Mills kit that he bought a couple of years ago and finished recently. He considered making it more Manitoba specific but decided to stay with their plan.

Neil states that Bar Mills makes a very good kit with pieces that go together fairly easily, with laser cut wood and some self stick parts that layer up to give it a good shape.

It's a train! It's a cake! It's a cake train!

And now for something completely different! For WMRC member Neil Carleton's 65th birthday, his wife Nancy Allan presented him with a cake in the shape of a CP switcher in the classic maroon and grey paint scheme. The cake was made at the Munch It Pastry Shop at 67 Goulet Street in the Dominion Centre in St. Boniface.  

Nancy took a picture of one of Neil's engines and the bakers did a sterling job of recreating it by using just cake and icing. They really nailed the colors! The lettering are decals stuck on to the icing.

Neil Carleton is keeping busy creating a new Free-Mo module

WMRC vice president and NMRA No. 1 Northern Division Superintendent Ian Plett recently emailed members, asking them how they  “spent their summer vacation”. Long time member Neil Carleton sent some images of the excellent module he’s created.

Neil had originally planned his module for display at a train show in Regina, which was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. It’s built to the original NMRA specs but using code 83 rail and with his existing two foot adapter modules, it will fit in with other free-mo modules.

The streetcar tracks are girder type to allow a clear groove for the wheels. They are soldered to copper pc board ties and the tinted spackling is troweled on using home made tools, to leave the rail heads a bit proud of the road to allow for cleaning. He painted and weathered the road.

The overhead wire works. The Bachman streetcar is switchable from two rail to one rail and overhead. The poles are brass and connected to the wiring bus. The power goes to the span wires attached to the poles and are soldered to the running wire using lost wax brass castings. The span wires are not soldered to the poles to allow slight adjustments.

He used a special tool to bend the girder track and some turnouts, so the next modules will have loops to allow continuous running. He used information online at East Penn Traction Club and Trolleyville School as well as a multipart article he downloaded from Model Railroader.

The poles and small brass parts were sourced from a fellow in Ohio. The track is from Custom Traxx. A few other pieces came from Micromark. The sanding tower is a Kanamodel kit as is the water tower. The oil tanks are ABS plumbing pipes with added details. The lunch stand is a Bar Mills kit.

Neil Carleton brings two models to the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's September monthly model display

WMRC member Neil Carleton brought two excellent models that he has been working on to the WMRC's first monthly model display of the season. He took an undecorated Rapido FP9 B-unit and installed a Loksound sound decoder. He primed it with Tamiya primer and spray painted it with Rapido and other brands of paint. Decals are from Black Cat. The finished model was sprayed with Testors Dullcoat. 

His second model was of a 1945 Chevy truck box. He used a CC Laser cut wooden truck kit to turn a Classic Metal Works highway tractor into a delivery truck. The model still needs to be primed and painted. It will be lettered for the Allan Transfer Company of MacGregor, Manitoba, using signs made with his computer.
 

 

Neil Carelton displays Athearn Hustler at Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's January meeting

WMRC member Neil Carleton brought this Athearn Hustler that he has been working on to the club's January monthly model display. He is using it to test the colors and making before repainting a larger, more expensive model.

He stripped the paint off by using a watered down lye solution. Then he painted it with Tamiya primer and masked and airbrushed it with Rapido acrylic Proto paint in classic CPR colors. He decorated it with Black Cat decals and sprayed it with Testors dull coat. Windows and headlight lenses were made with clear acetate and Testors clear part cement and window maker.  He finished the model by weathering it with pan pastels.