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.

The Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo is just a week away

 The Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo is just a week away! Many of your old model railroad favourites will be exhibiting this year, including WinNtrak, The NMRA No.1 Northern Division Free-Mo Group, Manitoba T-Trak and the Giraffe Car Man. There will be 15 layouts, 11 hobby displays and 60 vendors selling all sorts of model railroad equipment in every gauge.

The show also includes a wide variety of hobby groups such as the Manitoba Doll Club and the Manitoba Lego Users Group. There will be interactive slot car racing and a hot wheels display. 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. This is a once in a year event! You've got to be there!!

NMRA No.1 Northern Division free-Mo Group readies their layout for Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo

Ian Plett, fearless leader of the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division Free-Mo Group layout, is seen working hard on a new section of the layout. 

Long time WMRC member Christopher Robinson sent us images of the NMRA No.1 Northern Division Free-Mo group hard at work at Larry Skoglund’s place, getting their spectacular layout ready for next month's Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo. The Free-Mo Group and the WMRC are both part of the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division.

NMRA No.1 Northern Division Free-Mo group layout is the largest layout in the entire show, and it's always a must see attraction! Come check it out on September 27 between 9 and 5 and on September 28 between 9 and 4 at the Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo, 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!

Fred Headon (R) and the crew are seen applying finishing touches to the turf surrounding the track on one of the layout's modular sections.

Installing a four track mainline is not an easy task. The curves have to be the proper length away from each other to prevent the trains from colliding.

The Free-MoGroup's efficient design allows easy and comfortable access for wiring.

Everyone had a great time at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2025 train show and open house

The NMRA No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group layout was once again the largest display at the club's open house, and has always been a popular attraction.

What a party! The WMRC had one of its best and most successful open houses ever, thanks to all of our wonderful guests who attended the show. Even though there were record high temperatures on Saturday, that still didn't stop all of Winnipeg's model railroad lovers from coming. And Sunday's plummeting temperatures brought even more people to the show!

We had some great new displays from Manitoba T-Trak and Godfrey South's modular HO layout that proved to be very popular. Old favourites such as the NMRA No. 1 Northern Division's Free-Mo Group layout, Gary Stempnick's portable N gauge layout and the Giraffe Car Man's O gauge layout have people come back year after year to see them again. 

We'd also like to thank the folks at the Prairie Dog Central, the Assiniboine Valley Railway and St. Amant, our charity of choice, for their wonderful displays!

Gino Kost and Fred Headon conducted how-to model railroad clinics all through Saturday and Sunday.

The friendly folks at Manitoba T-Trak displayed for us for the first time, and were very popular.

Tommy South (centre) watches operations of his family's HO modular railway display.

Larry Leavens let everyone have a try operating the John Allen timesaver switching layout.

Cliff Davidson watches Gary Stempnick operate his portable N gauge layout.

This little tyke is having a lot of fun watching the trains go by inside the tunnel of the Giraffe Car Man's portable O gauge display.

 

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.

 

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!
 

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual spring train show happens on April 1 & 2

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club will he holding its annual spring train show and open house on April 1 & 2 at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. Hours are from 11AM to 4PM on both days.

This is the second biggest train show to be held this year in the entire province, and it's going to be jam packed with plenty of features and exhibits! The No.1 Northern Division's Free-Mo group, the Kildonan Short Lines, the Assiniboine Valley Railway and WinNtrak all will be displaying. There will also be the popular Lionel Giraffe Car portable layout, which is always a hit with the younger set.

As an extra added bonus, the club has made a limited run of some custom made buttons which they will be handing out to the kiddies! But it'll be first come, first serve! There will also be the club's annual model and photo contest displays, and the canteen will be selling hot dogs!

Admission is by donation. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Amant, who will also have a display at the show.

This is a sample of the artwork which will be used on the buttons the club will be handing out.

More images of the No. 1 Northern division's Free-Mo group at Trains N treasures

The No. 1 Northern Division Free-Mo groups head honcho Ian Plett has supplied us with even more images of their module layout in action at Trains N Treasures. The layout will be on display until April 1, when it will be moved for display at the WMRC's annual spring open house.

Trains N Treasures is having a pirate theme all this month, with the help of Unique Events, who are best known for their work at Boo at the Zoo. A tunnel has been added to their ride-on train layout. Attendants who come wearing pirate gear  will be entered in a contest for a family pass. 

Trains N Treasures is located at 3059 Ness Ave. Their hours are 10AM to 8PM on Saturday, and from 10AM to 6pm on Sundays. Tickets are $5, re-rides $3.50 and those under 3 free but (must ride with an adult).