Felix Lesiuk sweeps awards at the WMRC's 2026 banquet

Felix Lesiuk (L) is seen being presented the best in show modelling award from WMRC spring show chair Murray Brown at the club's annual banquet.

Felix Lesiuk was the big award winner at the WMRC's annual banquet, held at the Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park earlier this month. He won both best in show for his photo, titled "Evening Rain" featuring the Prairie Dog Central, which also graced the cover of the May issue of The Lantern, the official publication of the WMRC. 

He also won best in show for his modelling efforts for is diorama, titled "Country Road Trestle over Speeder at Signal". To top it off, he also won the photo contest special event for his photo of a train crossing a bridge in Bismarck, North Dakota. Congratulations, Felix!

Felix is seen receiving the special event award in the photo category from photo content chair Bart Hasselfield for his photo of a train crossing a bridge in Bismarck, North Dakota.

   

Felix also won the best in show award in the photo contest category or his photo of the Prairie Dog Central, title "Evening Rain".

Felix won best in show in the model category for his diorama of a speeder crossing under a country road trestle.

 

Learn all about the Prairie Dog Central's No. 3 locomotive and Manitoba T-Track at the WMRC's March meeting

We have two great presentations on tap for our March meeting. Luca Maytas will give us a brief history of the Vintage Locomotive Society’s Prairie Dog Central number 3 locomotive. He’ll give a brief explanation on how it works so everyone can have a basic understanding of steam locomotive components. Then he’ll show how they removed and replaced the boiler tubes after it was taken out of service in 2023, which took almost two years to complete. He’ll also show all the work they’ve done over the last few months to return it to its early 1900's appearance.

Then Eric Dawson will make a presentation about Manitoba T-Track, the province’s newest and most innovative modular group. T-Track N scale modules are small enough to fit in a briefcase and are often assembled together on banquet tables. They’ve displayed at the Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo, the Portage Model Railroad Club’s spring and Christmas open houses and the WMRC’s spring open house. 

The fun starts on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Robin Boulevard.  The canteen will be open, and we’ll have our usual model and photo display, plus our 50-50 draw. Guests are always warmly welcomed. 

 

 

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.

 

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club makes donations to the Prairie Dog Central and the Winnipeg Railway Museum

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club has donated $1,000 to the Winnipeg Railway Museum.

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club has donated $2,000 to the Vintage Locomotive Society towards their fund drive to restore the Prairie Dog Central’s steam No. 3 locomotive and $1,000 to the Midwest Rail Association to go towards the renovations of the Winnipeg Railway Museum. The WMRC has long been a steward of the community. We have donated thousands of dollars throughout the years to St. Amant. This time we’re reaching out to our fellow railway organizations who need our help.

The WMRC has also donated $2,000 to restore the Prairie Dog Central  No. 3 steam engine.

 

Celebrate 60 years of the Assiniboine Park zoo train on July 29

Do you still feel the need for steam after the CPKC 2816 left town, and you’ve sunk to the lowest depths of despair because the Prairie Dog Central’s venerable engine number three is still in the shop? Then stop by for a ride on Manitoba’s one and only live steam train that’s still operating at Assiniboine Park!

The Assiniboine Park steam train will be celebrating its 60th anniversary on Monday, July 29 between 11:00AM and 6:00PM. Stop by and join the celebration, and have a piece of cake too! What could be better than a ride behind a live steamer and cake?

 The price for a ride is just four bucks cash per person, but if you flash owner / operator Tim Buzunis a debit card it’ll cost you a quarter extra.

 

Prairie Dog Central cancels the rest of their 2020 season

The remainder of the season for the Prairie Dog Central has been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. This is the first time in 21 years that their season has been completely cancelled. The last time one of their seasons was cancelled was when they relocated to their present location on Inkster Boulevard.


Paul Newsome, general manager of the Vintage Locomotive Society which operates the train, stated that they felt that they could not live up to social distancing inside the train coaches without putting families and passengers at risk. 

All events planned for May, June and July for the Prairie Dog Central had already been cancelled. The fall season brought such popular events such as the fall supper diner train and the Halloween train.

The railway's remaining source of revenue is a commercial train car storage business, where the trackage is used to store rolling stock from other railroads.

View WinNtrak's wonderful miniature world up close

Our roving correspondent Felix "scoop" Lesiuk took these great close up images of WinNtrak's layout which is housed beside the Prairie Dog Central's freight house. The detail is absolutely extraordinary!

Keep in mind that these images are from an N scale layout, which is about half the size of HO. You couldn't see this layout with the naked eye as close as you could with these images.

Felix, who is a long time WMRC member, is the past president of WinNtrak. He is currently their facility manager and also is in charge of their newsletter.

WinNtrak featured on Shaw TV's TrainTown

WinNtrak's own Gerrit Vanderklok narrates Shaw TV's latest episode of Train Town.

How cool is this? Shaw TV Winnipeg has produced their third episode of Train Town, and this time they're featuring WinNtrak at their new home at the Prairie Dog Central! You can view it by clicking here!

It's movie night at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club!

It's movie and popcorn night at our next meeting,and we've got some dandies for you!

WMRC member Neil Carlton has supplied us with a CD with some footage on it that he shot when he worked as a cameraman for the CBC. On the CD is a short clip on the 1983 NMRA Winnipeg Jamboree National Convention and a clip featuring the late Paul Schuff as he discusses the trials and tribulations of VIA Rail while on The Canadian travelling on CP tracks from Winnipeg to Kenora. There's also a piece shot on the Prairie Dog Central out of their old St. James Street Station, with Peter Jordan travelling to Grosse Isle for Thanksgiving dinner. 

After a short break for more popcorn and donuts, you'll watch the IMAX movie Rocky Mountain Express featuring Canadian Pacific's 2816 Empress. This movie is very highly acclaimed and up until last year, could only be seen at an IMAX theater. 

Our meeting starts on Friday, February 10 at 7:30PM at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. We'll have our model display, a 50-50 draw and the canteen will be open! Not a member? Not a problem! Guests are always warmly welcomed. So come on out to movie night at the WMRC!

Two exciting open houses on tap for this weekend

How’s this for fun? The Assiniboine Valley Railway and WinNtrak will both be holding open houses this weekend!

WinNtrak’s clubhouse and layout will be open between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28. Their clubhouse is located in the parking lot of the Prairie Dog Central complex, and admission is free!

The Assiniboine Valley Railway’s open house hours are from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, August 27, and from 1:00PM to 5:00PM on Sunday, August 28. They’re located at 3001 Roblin Boulevard, just west of Assiniboine Park. 

It's just two bucks a ride, and kids under two years of age ride for free. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. A 12 ride pass is only twenty bucks!

WinNtrak holds open house this weekend

Here's a great view of WinNtrak's clubhouse, taken by long time WMRC member John Longhurst.

All aboard for a WinNtrak open house this weekend! Their clubhouse and layout will be open to the public between 1:00PM and 4:00PM on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. Their clubhouse is located in the parking lot of the Prairie Dog Central complex (that's right behind their freight shed). While you're there, you might want to take a ride on the Prairie Dog Central itself! But check their website first to see if tickets are still available! For directions on how to get there, click here. 

A magical night of trains and song held at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club

 Paul Newsome from the Vintage Locomotive Society gave the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club a presentation about the transporting of the CP G5's from Virginia to Winnipeg at our last meeting.

What a night we had at our October meeting! First we had Paul Newsome from the Vintage Locomotive Society, who gave us a great  presentation on the two G5 steam locomotives that were recently delivered to the Prairie Dog Central last month. Then we had the Audayo Brothers, fresh from their gig on the Prairie Dog Central, to entertain us with folk songs about railroading!

If you missed the meeting, you can still listen to the Audayo Brothers, as we made a video of their performance at the club! You can see them right now by going to this link:

https://youtu.be/rP6_GxqI1rY

 Here they are, folks! The Audayo Brothers, as they performed at the WMRC's last meeting.

Joins us for the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's next meeting on October 16

 WMRC Program Director Morgan Turney took this great photo of the two G5s at the Prairie Dog Central's Inkster Junction last month.

Paul Newsome from the Vintage Locomotive Society will give us a presentation on the two G5 steam locomotives that were recently delivered to the Prairie Dog Central last month. Paul was instrumental in arranging the logistics and move from Virginia to Winnipeg, and he has a very good presentation showing how the locomotives and their tenders were taken from their flat decks and on to the rails.

Then we'll have something completely different! Former WMRC member and past president Terry Penner and a friend of his has formed a band called The Audayo Brothers, which has played all summer long on the Prairie Dog Central! They will appear for us at the October meeting. And yes, they will play a few train songs. You won't want to miss this meeting!

The fun starts at 7:30 at the Charleswood Legion ,which is located at 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The canteen will be open, and we'll be holding the ever popular 50-50 draw and the monthly model display.

 If you've been modelling anything, by all means bring it down! Each entry must include your name and a short write up describing the work that has been accomplished to date. Each entrant will have but one entry for the monthly prize of a $15 voucher from a local hobby store.

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club moves date of next meeting to October 16

See this place? Don't go there this Friday, unless you want to vote.

The WMRC has moved the date of their next meeting from October 9 to October 16. This is because the Charleswood Legion is being used by Elections Canada for advance polling this Friday and all of this weekend.

After two back-to-back whirlwind weekends of trains at Railway Days and Mega Train, we can settle back and enjoy two terrific programs at our next meeting.  Paul Newsome from the Vintage Locomotive Society will give us a presentation on the two G5 steam locomotives that were recently delivered to the Prairie Dog Central last month. Paul was instrumental in arranging the logistics and move from Virginia to Winnipeg, and he has a very good presentation showing how the locomotives and their tenders were taken from their flat decks and on to the rails.

And now for something completely different! During Mega Train, Larry Leavens and Suzanne Lemon chatted with former WMRC member and past president Terry Penner. They discovered that he and a friend have formed a band called The Audayo Brothers that played all summer long on the Prairie Dog! They quickly made arrangements to have them appear for us at the October meeting. And yes, they play a few train songs. You won't want to miss this meeting!

WinNtrack drives "last spike" at their grand opening ceremonies

WinNtrak, led by their president, Felix Lesiuk, celebrated their Grand Opening and Last Spike Ceremonies at their new club house located at the Prairie Dog Central station grounds north west of Winnipeg.

Ceremonies included a run-through ribbon-cutting event followed by the driving of the Last Spike into their club's switch stand located just outside the entrance door. The event, held on Saturday, October 3rd, was attended by over 75 people. Congratulations to the WinNtrak Model Railway Group from the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club!

What a beautiful day for the grand opening ceremonies! WinNtrak President and long time WMRC member Felix Lesiuk warmly welcomed all visitors to their new clubhouse on the Prairie Dog central grounds.
 

 Ribbon cutting ceremonies were performed by two N scale locomotives on the WinNtrak layout.

 Success! The locomotives plowed right through the ribbon! All photos by Morgan Turney.

WinNtrak to hold grand opening of their new clubhouse this weekend

The friendly folks at WinNtrak are holding the grand opening of their new group clubhouse this Saturday, October 3, at the Prairie Dog Central's Inkster Junction Station, just off Inkster Boulevard. Their new clubhouse is in the annex building, next to the Atco trailer on the east side of the property.  Opening ceremonies are at 11:00am, and there will be light refreshments. Free admission! All are welcome!

Exclusive photos: The CPR G5's engines arrive at the Prairie Dog Central

 The cranes are getting ready to lift the locomotive. All photos by Morgan Turney.

By Morgan Turney 

After arriving at the Prairie Dog Central on September 15th, operations began for unloading the G5s and their tenders two days later. Able Crane Services did the lifting and Ranger Enterprises looked after the preparatory work, such as removing the cables which secured the engines and tenders to the flats, installing the blocking for the lifts and cleaning the flat car decks of all the welded wheel guides and cable eyelets.

Members of the Vintage Locomotive Society handled the moving duties once the engines and tenders were safely on the rails. Great team work, you guys!

Operations began about 7:30 am and it took about eight or nine hours to complete. Ex-CPR G5s 1238 and 1286 are now safely back in Canada and will be stored at the Prairie Dog Central's Inkster Junction station. Thanks to everyone at the Vintage Locomotive Society and especially to Vintage Locomotive Society General Manager, Paul Newsome, who arranged for me to be there for the day. It was quite an experience watching these guys at work!

 Lift off! The G5 is lifted into the air!

 Touchdown! The engine lands onto the rails!

On the move! The G5 gets rolling slowly down the rails.

Prairie Dog Central to recieve two CP steam locomotives from Virginia

   Two vintage CP G5 class 4-6-2 steam locomotives are returning home to Canada. The locomotives spent over 40 years in Covington, Virginia as part of the late Jack Showalter's Virginia Central Tourist Railroad. Showalter, a tourist railroad operator and dedicated steam preservationist, died in November 2014.

    The engines have been stored on the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Staunton, Virginia for over 15 years. The Prairie Dog Central has not purchased these locomotives. They were purchased by an Albertan, but will be stored at the PDC's shops off Inkster Boulevard. The 1238 was built in Montreal in 1946. The 1286 was built in Kingston Locomotive Works in 1948. Future operating plans for these two engines are under review by the Vintage Locomotive Society.

Prairie Dog Central's Father's Day train excursion sold out

Please note that the Prairie Dog Central's popular Father's Day excursion train has been sold out.

The Prairie Dog Central railway has many special events and excursions from May to October every year, and many of them sell out in advance. You can purchase tickets at the station before any scheduled ride, but it's always best to go to their website to buy advance tickets and to see if the train you wish to ride on is sold out.

For more information about the Prairie Dog Central, go to their website at: http://pdcrailway.com/