Ian Plett recieves the president's shield award at the WMRC's AGM

Ian Plett received the president's shield award for his service to the club from outgoing President Wayne Hilsden at the WMRC's AGM and banquet, held at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park on May 12. Ian has been a tireless workhorse, serving simultaneously as vice president, spring show chair and public relations director.  He also serves as the superintendent of the NMRA No.1 Northern Division. No one deserves the award more than him!
 

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club mourns passing of long time member Roger Kiendl

Roger (far left) is seen with Ron Einarson, Paul Ullrich Dennis Rietze and Sid Greenstone in from of the Prairie Dog Central’s #3 locomotive during the 2010 TLR convention in Winnipeg. 

Long time WMRC member Roger Kiendl passed away in Regina earlier this year.

Roger was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He had a long career in electronics and worked for companies such as Bulova, Gulf and Western, Curtis Wright and the Westinghouse Corporation. He was the designer and Project Engineer for the nuclear reactor rod control system installed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise.

He met his wife Beverley, a nursing student from Manitoba, while she was working at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. They were married in 1963 and moved Winnipeg in 1971. He worked as the sales manager of video systems for Servo Electronic Systems, providing television systems for Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario until he retired in 1999.

Roger was a member of the WMRC and the NMRA for close to 40 years. He attended the NMRA national convention in Winnipeg in 1983 and TLR conventions in 1996, 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2010. When the TLR’s local group, No. 1 Northern Division, was in danger of being delisted he was a driving force in helping the group’s reorganization.

Roger saved the lives of three of his fellow WMRC members Arnie Walker, Norm Leathers and Paul Ullrich in 2003 when they were travelling to the TLR convention in Thunder Bay. When it was his turn driving, a moose suddenly walked onto the Trans Canada Highway east of Dryden. He expertly swerved, braked, and honked, scaring the moose out of the way.

Roger was on the organizing committee for the 2010 TLR convention in Winnipeg. He came up with the name of the convention, “Steam on the Prairies”. He was a tireless and dedicated volunteer for this convention, assisting in securing the venue, the rental of the Prairie Dog Central Railway, choosing the restaurant for the banquet, renting the bus for the rail fan trip to Portage La Prairie and the rental of the banquet tables for the Friday night barbecue.

Roger was also a member of the Winnipeg Rotary Club, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the Winnipeg Executives Association, the Manitoba Protective Officers Association, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and was a Board member for St. Amant. When the WMRC was seeking a charity to sponsor, it was Roger who recommended St. Amant.

He and former WMRC Treasurer Dennis Rietze designed the modules for the No. 1 Northern Division’s Free-Mo modular layout. Roger continued to be active in the TLR and the WMRC until Beverly’s passing in 2014. He moved to Regina in 2015 to be closer to his son, Anthony. He died peacefully in Regina at age 85.

Roger is seen taking a photo of a layout during the TLR convention in Duluth, Minnesota in 2008.

 

Watch Ian Plett on Global TV

WMRC Vice president and Public Relations Director Ian Plett was interviewed on Global TV's local morning show on September 28. He was there to promote the Manitoba Mega Train Show, which was held on September 29 and 30.

Ian, who is also Superintendent of the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division and President of their Free-Mo group, set up the largest display the show ever had, combining forces with the Kildonan Short Lines modular group.

The WMRC always has a significant presence at the show, as the club is involved in set up and take-down of the event, including assembling the mega-train and manning the admissions desk.

You can see Ian's interview by going to: https://globalnews.ca/video/4496572/model-train-lovers-unite-at-manitoba-mega-train-hobby-show

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club to hold their annual train show and open house on April 7 and 8

Mark your calendars! It's that time of the year again! The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club is holding their annual open house! We're going to have some great layouts, featuring an expanded version of the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo layout. The Giraffe Car man will also have his portable Lionel layout running again!

We'll also have plenty of displays, including our annual model and photo contest results. The canteen will be open, serving plenty of hot dogs, chips, coffee, pop and donuts.

The fun starts on Saturday, April 7, in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin boulevard. Hours are from 10AM to 5PM on Saturday, April 7, and from 10AM to 4PM on Sunday, April 8. Admission by donation. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Amant. Hope to see you all there!

Ron Einarson becomes a Master Model Railroader

Ron Einarson, seen here displaying at the No. 1 Northern Division's annual train meet in 2015, has just been named Master Model Railroader by the NMRA.

It is with great pride that we announce that our own Ron Einarson has been designated a Master Model Railroader (MMR) by the NMRA. Ron has been a member of the WMRC since 1983, and has been a member of the NMRA for almost as many years. He has also served as superintendent of the No.1 Northern Division  and as the President of NMRA Canada.

Ron is MMR #593. The title of MMR will follow after his name at all NMRA functions and any written material about him. The NMRA presently has over 18,000 members, and in it's entire history there has been only 593 MMR certificates awarded, so this is a rare honour indeed!

The MMR is an achievement program, and each applicant must earn a series of seven certificates for their work before they receive the title. Ron has worked very hard to earn this title, and his modelling work has always spoken for itself. Way to go, Ron!

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2016 spring open house was a great success!

The expression on James South's face says it all! Everyone had a terrific time at the WMRC's spring open house held last weekend. It was the most successful open house we've had in over 15 years, and we'd like to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone who visited and everyone who displayed!

 No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group Superintendent Ian Plett made sure everything ran smoothly on their layout this past weekend.

 The Assiniboine Valley Railway's President Len LaRue displayed three of the group's magnificent custom made cars at the show, including this woodside caboose built by the late, great Peter Abel.

WMRC Secretary Cliff Davidson displayed this nifty N gauge layout that he built on a 2" thick piece of blue styrofoam.

Only 40 spaces available for Resolute Forest Products tour at 2015 TLR convention in Thunder Bay

   If you're planning to attend the 2015 NMRA Thousand Lakes Region convention in Thunder Bay this year, you better hurry up and register! There are only 40 spaces available for the Resolute Forest Products tour, which promises to be one of the highlights of this convention.

   The convention is being held from may 22 to 24 this year in beautiful Thunder Bay. There will be a lot of Canadians, including our good friends from the No.1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group, who are bringing their fantastic layout to the show!

   For more information about the convention, go to the TLR website:
http://www.thousandlakesregion.org/#!
You can also e-mail the convention organizers by using this address:
northwoodrails@gmail.com
  

Coming to Canada for the 2015 TLR convention in Thunder Bay?

The TLR's 2015 regional convention is going to be held in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Many of the members of the TLR haven't been to Canada since the No. 1 Northern Division held the "Steam on the Prairies" convention in 2010. To assist the many American NMRA members who wish to attend this convention, WMRC blog editor Paul Ullrich has written an article about what you need to know about entering Canada. This article has been published in The Fusee (the official publication of the TLR) and has been posted on the TLR's official website, the TLR's Facebook page, the No. 1 Northern's web site and the WMRC's Facebook Page. We are re-posting the article on this site, because we want to make sure that everyone who wants to attend this wonderful convention will be able to do so. 

How to get into (and out of) Canada
By Paul Ullrich

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR MINNESOTANS: The information on this page has been updated. Minnesotans who wish to attend this convention CAN apply for an enhanced driver's license that will permit entry into Canada. It costs $15 in addition to the fee charged for a regular driver's license or ID card. For more information, visit this site:

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ooc/news-releases/Pages/Enhanced-Drivers-License-and-Identification-Cards-Now-Available.aspx
   Five years ago, I wrote an article for The Fusee about how to cross the Canadian border to attend the 2010 TLR convention in Winnipeg. In just a few months, we'll be having another convention in Canada, this time in Thunder Bay. There's a good chance that many of our members haven't been to the Canada since then, so an update is in order.
   The good news is that it's a bit easier to cross the border. In 2010 both U.S. and Canadian customs officials were still getting used to the new rules that came into place in June of 2010. The bad news is that they haven't eased the rules concerning documentation. You still need either a passport, a Nexus card, or an enhanced identity card /driver's license.  Oddly enough, this is only for getting back into the states!
    Although Canada strongly recommend that you have a passport, they require just two things: proof of your U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and a valid photo I.D. card, such as a drivers license.
    Nexus cards are proving to be very popular for cross border travels. It cost just 50 bucks, and enables you to travel relatively hassle free between the U.S. and Canada by air, land or sea. But there are a few hitches.
    After you fill out an on-line form, you have to go to an enrollment center for a personal interview. There are only two enrollment centers in the U.S. in the Thousand Lakes region. One is in Warroad, Minnesota, and the other is in Pembina, North Dakota. If you live close to the Canadian border, then that's not too much of a problem. But that's a pretty long drive from Dubuque or Sioux Falls!
    Several people have asked me about using enhanced driver's licenses for border crossing. They are available in most Canadian provinces, only five states issue them: Minnesota, Vermont, New York, Michigan, and Washington State. This is great news for Minnesotans, who represent the bulk of the membership in the TLR. It costs $15 in addition to the fee charged for a regular Minnesota driver's license of ID card. Applications will take two to four week to process. For more information, please visit this site:

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ooc/news-releases/Pages/Enhanced-Drivers-License-and-Identification-Cards-Now-Available.aspx

    But for the rest of the members of the TLR living in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin, you'd be far better off to obtain a passport. For first time applicants, the cost would come to $165, and for that you get a passport book and a card. A renewal costs $140. You also get a passport card to go with your passport.
    It can take up to three months to receive a Nexus card. Passports are a bit faster. But please apply for one as soon as possible. Don't put it off! Why risk not being able to attend the convention?  
    Now that we've got your documentation covered, let's get you across the border. There are some rules for which you must be made aware:
    Border services are on the watch for missing children. Parents who share custody of their children carry copies of their legal custody documents, such as custody rights. If you share custody and the other parent is not traveling with you, or if you are not the parent or legal guardian, then carry a consent letter to provide authorization for you to take them on a trip and enter Canada. (This is in addition to the child's passport.)  A consent letter must include the parents full name, address and telephone number. Have the consent letter notarized.
    Anyone with a criminal record (including a drunk driving conviction) may be excluded from entering Canada. A waiver of exclusion may be issued but several weeks are required and a processing fee must be paid. Permanent residents of the U.S. who are not U.S. citizens must present their Green Card.
   You can bring certain goods into Canada for your own use, including clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras and computers. You must declare all goods when you arrive at the first Canadian port of entry, but let common sense prevail. They really don't care how many pairs of underwear you're bringing across the border. 
   But they might be a bit curious about any model railroad equipment you're bringing with you, and that should be declared, especially if it's equipment that you're bringing back with you.  If you declare them when you arrive and take them back with you when you leave, you will not have to pay any duty or taxes. Keep the declaration sheet handy, as U.S. customs officials might want to view it.

These goods cannot be:
    •    Used by a resident of Canada
    •    Used on behalf of a business based in Canada
    •    Given as a gift to a Canadian resident
    •    Disposed of or left behind in Canada

   Again, common sense should prevail. If you bring a locomotive to run on a layout, and someone else uses it during an operating session, they're not going to lock you behind bars. Bringing model contest entries across the border shouldn't be a problem. It would help to download the contest form and fill it out before you cross the border.
   In extremely rare cases, a border services officer may ask you to leave a security deposit for your goods, which will be refunded to you when you export the goods from Canada. Should this occur, you will be issued a Temporary Admission Permit. They will retain a copy and give you one for your records. When you leave Canada, present your goods and your copy of the Temporary Admission Permit to the border services officer, who will give you a receipt and your security deposit will be refunded by mail.
   Unless you can prove that you had them with you when you left (with documents that fully describe the item) U.S. Customs may require you to pay duty on items you've carried out of the country and are bringing back with you. Sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals are acceptable forms of proof. You may register your items with U.S. Customs at the border as you are leaving. Request a Certificate of Registration. Inspectors must see the item you are registering.
     You can import gifts into Canada for friends and relatives duty free, as long as each gift is valued at $60 or less, in Canadian funds.  If you are bringing gifts to Canada, don't gift wrap them. Customs wants to see them unwrapped. If you declare to customs that you have items for sale, you will be charged sales tax on the estimated value of the items. Items for silent auction may fall under this category, but there's no hard and fast rule regarding this. 
    In 2010,  I crossed the border with a box full of plaques for Canadian conventioneers who won modelling and photography awards at the 2010 convention. Although they were going to be given to the winners and not sold to them, I still had to declare them as items purchased in the U.S., even though they were bought by the TLR and not myself. They brought me into the office, and after about 15 minutes of deliberation, they decided not to charge any sales tax on the items.
   You can bring two 750 ml bottles of wine, 40 ounces of liquor, or 24 bottles or cans of beer or ale.  You can also bring duty-free up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.  You cannot bring back Cuban cigars purchased in Canada. Smoke them in Canada (if you can find a place that allows smoking, and good luck with that).   
   But you can buy quite a bit of stuff when you're in Canada, and bring it home tax and duty free. If you've been in Canada for more than 48 hours, you are allowed to bring $800US worth of goods per person back home. But keep in mind that (sadly) there are no hobby shops in Thunder Bay.
   However, there's a delicious baked delicacy exclusive to Thunder Bay known as the Persian. It is highly recommended that you try one while you're there. You might fall in love with them so much tat you'd want to bring $800 of them home with you! But watch what you say when you're crossing the border. Given the situation between Iran and the west, if you declare that you're carrying a trunk full of Persians, you might be questioned by those charming and gregarious folks at homeland security.

   All food products, plants and animals must be declared at the border. If you bring your pet, you must have a certificate to show that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies within the last three years. The certificate has to be dated and signed by a veterinarian, and it must identify the animal by breed, age, sex, coloring, and any distinguishing marks. Animal tags are not acceptable in place of certificates. If you bring a dog or cat under three months old you do not need a certificate, but the animal has to be in good health.
   All firearms and weapons must be declared at the border.You must have written authorization to bring explosives, fireworks, and certain types of ammunition into Canada.
           Check with your health insurance provider if you are covered in Canada. If not, you should buy travel health insurance for every day you're in Canada. It doesn't cost very much.
   When returning to the U.S., you must declare all items you purchased, items you received as gifts, items you bought in duty-free shops, repairs or alterations to any items, items you brought home for someone else, and items you intend to sell or use in your business.
   Many travelers are confused by the term duty-free. People think that what they buy in duty-free shops outside the U.S. won't be subject to any duty when they return home. Guess what! Articles sold in a Canadian duty-free shop are only free of CANADIAN duty and taxes. If your purchases exceed your personal exemption, items bought in a duty-free shop will be subject to duty. You are allowed to bring back just one liter of alcohol duty-free, regardless of whether it was purchased at a duty-free shop. But keep in mind that a bottle of Canadian Club is a lot cheaper in the states.
  Drugs with a high potential for abuse may not be brought across either border, and there are severe penalties for trying to do so. If you need medicine that contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics, you must declare them. Carry them in their original containers, with a prescription or written statement from your doctor.
   You can exchange U.S. money for Canadian funds at any Canadian bank. They're used to doing that. It might be a bit more difficult to get Canadian money from a bank in Iowa.  
   If you're taking more than $10,000 in cash out of the USA, you will need to report it to both U.S. and Canadian customs officials. If you exchange more than $1000US for Canadian funds at any Canadian Bank of financial institution, you'll have a lot of paperwork to fill out.   
   But let's face it - for the most part, you'll be using you credit card to pay for just about everything anyway. The only time you might use cash is for tickets at the banquet's silent auction, and the ticket sellers will accept U.S. finds. 
   You can use all major credit cards in Canada. Your credit card service will convert the amount into U.S. funds on your statement. They will charge you a fee for this service, which is usually a small percentage of the amount owed.
   Most goods and services cost  more in Canada. But as of this writing, the Canadian dollar is worth 88 cents US, which means that your U.S. dollar will go a lot farther in Canada. The exchange rate changes every day, so it's impossible to predict what it will be in May, but it will most probably still be lower. Google "Canadian dollar exchange rate" before you go.
    Fill up your tank before you cross the Canadian border. Gasoline is a lot more expensive in Canada. Gasoline is sold by the litre in Canada, which is roughly one quart. So don't be fooled by the signs at Canadian gas stations! 
   Canada uses the metric system, which you only need to know about when you're driving or checking the weather. 100 km/hr is NOT the same as 100 mph! Divide everything by two-thirds. 100 km/hr is 65 mph. 50 km/hr is 33 mph. When Canadians say, "Boy, it's gonna be a hot one! It'll be 30 degrees today!", don't be alarmed. 30 degrees celsius is 86 degrees fahrenheit.
    When you reach the border, you will be asked for your reason for entering Canada. When you say, "I'm attending a model railroad convention", they'll most likely let you through without any hassle. You might even engage in a friendly conversation about model railroading with the customs official!

    But bring your paperwork anyway.

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club announces date and new location for their 2014 spring open house

   Mark your calendars! The WMRC will be holding its annual spring open house on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29 at their new location at the Charleswood Legion Hall, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. Hours are from 11AM to 4PM both days. The venue is handicap accessible. Please enter on the west side of the building.

    There will be lots of stuff to see, such as the entries from our annual photo and model contests, and several operating layouts, including the No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Layout, the Kildonan Short Lines modular layout, and the Lionel 027 "giraffe car" layout!

   The canteen will be open as well, serving donuts, pop, chips, coffee and our famous gourmet hot dogs, served with either mustard or ketchup! Come and help us celebrate our 60th year of model railroading in Winnipeg! Admission is by donation, and a portion of proceeds will go to support St. Amant. Hope to see you all there!

The National Model Railroad Association's Winnipeg train show is on tomorrow!

Saturday, November 1 is the big day! The NMRA is holding it's first ever train show in Winnipeg, and it's open to the public! You don't have to be an NMRA member to attend! They're going to have lots of layouts, including the No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo layout, the Lionel 027 "Giraffe Car" layout, a portable N scale layout, and a G scale layout! There will be clinics and a demonstration on how to run a layout with a cell phone. Try your hand at runing a miniature switching yard with the John Allen Timesaver module!

The fun starts at 10:00 AM this Saturday at Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, 201 Scurfield Road! Admission by donation. Handicap accessible! Portions of the proceeds will be donated to St. Amant.

Watch Ian Plett's video of the Manitoba Mega Train Show - shot from an HO flatcar!

WMRC member Ian Plett has created a truly unique video of the 2014 Manitoba Mega Train Show. He built a car out of Lego and mounted a camera on it! Then he ran it on the No. 1 Northern Division Free-Mo Group's enormous layout (it was 95 feet long - the biggest display in the show). As the layout was just about in the middle of the show, you get a very interesting view of what was going on.  Please note that the video was shot early in the morning while the crowds were still light. As most visitors would attest, it got pretty crowded later in the day! Click here to watch this amazing video!

A visit to the Palo Verde Southern Railroad featured at Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's September meeting

The program for Friday's meeting features a special treat! Dennis Rietze, a long time member who is also the Superintendent of the NMRA's No. 1 Northern Division, will be presenting a program about his visit to the Palo Verde Southern Railroad in Mesa, Arizona.

This layout has to be seen to believed! It's considered to be one of the largest G scale layouts in the world (if no the largest). It's famous for running 100+ car lengths, it's beautifully landscaped and the engines have full sound! There's nothing like hearing a sound system from the big speaker of a scale G gauge train!

There's lots of videos featuring this amazing layout on You Tube, but if you come to the meeting, you'll get to see in on a big screen instead of on your computer!

We won't be having a formal second program this month, so if any members wish to put something together to show to the club, here is your chance - Free For All Night! Simply put 15 or so train-related or model related photos on a CD/DVD or USB stick and bring them with you and we'll show them. 

We'll also be having our monthly model display, with a draw for a gift certificate from a local hobby shop. Feel free to bring down whatever you've been working on, and you might win! It doesn't have to be completed - but you must include a short write-up describing the work you've done to date. If we get ten or more entries from ten different members, the gift certificate prize will be doubled to thirty dollars!

Of course, the canteen and the library will be open as well.

Don't forget that we have a new meeting place - The Charleswood Legion at 6003 Roblin Boulevard! We meet at 7:30PM in the Tank Room located in the basement of the hall. Please use the entrance on the west side of the building (which is wheelchair accessible). You can't miss the building - it's got a big tank in front of it!

Hope to see you all there! Be sure to bring your membership renewal forms! If you don't have one, we'll supply you with one!

No. 1 Northern Division readies for Manitoba Mega Train Show

The Manitoba Mega Train Show is only a month away, and the NMRA's No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group is ready to go with their most spectacular layout ever, measuring a staggering 95' x 22'!
Last year, their layout was the largest in the show. It was so large that during set-up organizer Maurice Dorge called No.1 Northern Superintendent Dennis Rietze just to double check that he got the measurements right (he did).

This set-up should be called the long, long layout! Being 95 feet long, it'll provide plenty of room for some long run-throughs! Much thanks to Ian Plett (the driving force behind the No. 1 Northern's Free-Mo group) for suppling this plan.

The Manitoba Mega Train Show will be held on September 27 and 28 at the CanLan Sports Centre, 1871 Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg. The hours for both days are from 9AM to 5PM. General admission is five dollars. Admission for children ages 3-12 is three dollars. Free admission for children two and under. Admission includes unlimited rides on the Mega-Train which encircles the entire show. Vendors, a huge Lego exhibit and plenty of model railroads on display. Free parking, handicapped accessible.

NMRA No. 1 Northern Division Free-Mo group displays at WMRC open house

Neil Carlton runs a freight train on the No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo modular group layout at the WMRC's open house. Photo by Paul Ullrich

   The NMRA's No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo modular group displayed once again at the WMRC's annual open house. The layout was a bit smaller than last year's, mostly because there were so many other displays, and only so much space to go around! Still, there was enough room to have some really long trains do some really long runs.

    The two loops the group constructed were funded by a grant from the NMRA's Thousand lakes Region (TLR). The No. 1 Northern Division thanks the TLR for their generosity in helping complete this project.

A BN freight rolls down the straightaway, heading for the next loop which will bring it back. Photo by Suzanne Lemon.

Ian Plett holds a tree modelling clinic at the WMRC open house

   Ian Plett is one busy guy! He's an active member of the WMRC and the NMRA's No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo modular group, and he holds down a job as a long distance trucker. While he was helping operating the No. 1 Northern's Free-Mo layout at the WMRC's last open house, he also found the time to conduct a tree modelling clinic!
 
   Tree modelling has always been one of the WMRC's most successful clinics. By using such easily obtainable and inexpensive items as twigs, hair spray and ground foam, anyone can make some very
convincing looking trees for their layout. Just look at the beauty Ian created in the foreground of this image!

Kildonan Short Lines modular group debuts at Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's open house

    We have a brand new modular group in town, and the WMRC is pleased to announce that the Kildonan Short Lines will have its premiere run at the club's upcoming open house, which will be held March 15 and 16 at Westworth United Church, 1750 Grosvenor Avenue.  The very spiffy logo for the group was designed by WMRC blog editor Paul Ullrich.

    Our good friends from the No. 1 Northern Division will also have its modular layout operating at the show. When they displayed at last year's Manitoba Mega Train Show, they had the largest layout in the building!

    Of course, the man with the giraffe cars (also known as blog editor Paul Ullrich) will have his portable Lionel layout up and running at the show. Paul's layout is definitely hands on! The kids (and the adults) are always welcome to come over to the layout and play with all of the operating dump cars.

   There will also be displays of the club's model and photo contests, some "how to" clinics about model railroading, a canteen serving refreshments, old train magazines for sale and a few more surprises!

    The hours are from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, and from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday. Please note that the entrance for the show is on the west side of the church, although the main entrance of the church and the elevator will still be accessible for our handicapped visitors.

Ian Plett's layout in a truck

   Winnipeg Model Railroad Club members have built some remarkable layouts throughout the years. But there is truly none so unique as the one built by Ian Plett. Ian, a long distance truck driver, built a layout in the bunk area of his truck!

    By Ian Plett
   
    When someone says that they have a model railroad, the image that comes to mind is: what type, how big, is it steam or modern diesel? Where is it located? Is it one of those basement empires or up in the attic, or a shelf layout in a spare bedroom?

     Not all of us have the time or the space to work on such a layout. My job doesn’t give me a lot of home time. I’m a long distance truck driver and I’ve found the way to incorporate my job and my love for model railroading into one. With the kind permission of my boss, I built a shelf layout in the bunk area of the truck that I drive.

     I first got this idea about 8 years ago when I joined the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club. The idea came from one of the members, who had built a John Allen Time Saver module.  Since then the idea has grown from a switching layout to a full loop with sidings. In planning the layout, I used Bachman E-Z Track. I measured the space available in my bunk area, then started laying out different track arrangements on my living room floor. I had the plywood secured and Styrofoam glued down, then I laid the Bachman E-Z Track in place. I traced the outer edge onto the Styrofoam to give me a edge for laying down the cork roadbed. When laying down my track I glued it down and then soldered the track joints to give them strength. 

    The truck I drive has brackets for a second bunk, which is where I bolted down my shelf layout. The basic construction is a 2'x4' frame bolted to the truck's upper bunk brackets. I laid down 3/4" plywood to give the layout some strength, as the truck bounces and vibrates a lot. The layout had to be built for easy removal. I used L-Brackets to secure the plywood to the 2'x4's. I built it in two L-shaped pieces, plus a ridge piece which I secure using C-clamps.  I also used c-clamps to hold the bridge span to the rest of the shelf.    
  
 I take the bridge down when I’m driving. I made a special space on the front of the layout to hold the bridge span so I wouldn’t have to move it every time I needed to get to the lower bunk. If I kept the bridge in place it would bounce up and down as I drove. The noise would drive me crazy, and the truck's vibrations would cause it to break eventually.         

  Prior to building this layout, I hated to do scenery. When I attended the TLR's "Steam on the Prairies" convention in 2010, I went to a scenery building clinic. I was surprised at how easy it was! Now I enjoy making scenery.
  
 I’m modeling the north central plains of North Dakota. The layout is pretty flat, except for a few hills in the back corners. The scenery includes a pond, cuts through hills, trees, roads, buildings, and a parking lot. I use Digitrax DCC or DC depending on what type of engines I bring along. Wiring is pretty basic. My turnouts are manual.  Operation is also basic. I have only one siding.

  I haven’t done much exhibiting, but I've shown the layout at the No. 1 Northern Division's first train meet, held in Winnipeg in November 2011. I also exhibited at "Steam on the Prairies", but at that time it was still a “Plywood Empire”.  
  
   This layout it gives me the opportunity to run my trains away from home. It’s a good way to relax after along day behind the wheel. And who knows, I might be rolling through your town soon!

     Ian has since sold his truck layout. He's now working on a N scale version, as the truck he presently drives doesn’t have much space to build anything larger than 2’x3’. Below are some images of Ian's layout. More images will be presented in future posts.

Larry Leaven's January model display entry

   Winnipeg Model Railroad Club President Larry Leavens also had an entry in the monthly model display. He built a Walthers Ontario Carbonate tank car and added a few extra finishing touches.

   To weight the model, he added lead shot in a white glue matrix, according to NMRA recommended practice. He replaced the horn hook couplers with Kadees and replaced the plastic wheels with metal ones from Intermountain Railway.

   Plastic stanchions were replaced with metal ones from an Athearn diesel. The end railings had a stand-off support added to the middle, as per the prototype.  The safety bar along the side had standoffs added mid-way between the end sill and the ladder. The safety rails were brush painted with stencil white.

   The faces of the wheels were painted a dirty rust colour and the side frames were painted with grimy black.

    The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's monthly model display is held at every meeting by the No. 1 Northern Division of the NMRA. To qualify for the monthly prize, you must show that you've done some assembly or weathering. Each entry must include a short write-up describing the work that has been finished to date.

December meeting's model display

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's monthly model display is held at every meeting by the No. 1 Northern Division of the NMRA. To qualify for the monthly prize, you must show that you've done some assembly or weathering. Each entry must include a short write-up describing the work that has been finished to date.

 Ron Einarson, the modeller's modeller, displayed an L&N coal unloading trestle.

 Ron also displayed some steel drums which he hand-painted in prototype colours. Is he going

 to put them on his layout, or is he going to start a miniature Caribbean steel drum band?

 Ron displayed a Walthers logging truck, which was a resin kit that he assembled mostly at 

Gooch's open house in November.

 Gino Kost displayed a 50' Canstock car. This type of car was designed specifically to
 haul aluminum or steel coils for the manufacturing of canned food products. 

Virginia Braun displayed this well detailed hen house, complete with chickens!

The ultimate John Allen Timesaver contest!

It was a battle royal, a fight to the finish, a no holds barred, winner-take-all royal rumble in the basement of Whyte Ridge Baptist Church! Not since the WWE came to town has there been such a cataclysmic clash! There hasn't been such a brutal dogfight since Richthofen and Brown!

On November 2, 2013, the city's top John Allen Timesaver competitors squared off at the No. 1 Northern Division's third annual train meet. Their goal was to win the coveted gift certificate from a local hobby shop and a semi-valuable trophy. Each contestant had to shunt freight cars from one section of track to another through a maze of switches. The one who could do it in the shortest time won the prize!

First up was mighty Morgan Turney, Publisher of Canadian Railway Modeller and Acting Program Director for the WMRC. He threw in the towel after seven minutes and 50 seconds. Next up was Michael Leader, who finished in just under four minutes! Ian Plett was next, tying Michael's time.
WMRC Blog Editor Paul Ullrich was next, coming from way behind with a score for 12 minutes (and he was the one who designed the configuration for the competition).

Ian and Michael faced off in the finals. Michael picked up speed in the second round, edging out Ian with a new record time of just over three minutes! The semi-coveted trophy and the gift certificate was awarded to Michael by No. 1 Northern Superintendent Dennis Rietze.

 Morgan Turney tests his skill at the John Allen Timesaver module.

 Ian Plett was up next, while Michael Leader timed him using his smart phone.

 Michael Leader is shown here in the final competition as Dennis Rietze and Ian Plett look on.

 No. 1 Northern Superintendent Dennis Rietze presents Michael Leader with the trophy and the gift certificate with Roger Kiendl and Ian Plett. Congratulations, Michael!