The Aerotrain rides again on Norm Leathers layout at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's spring layout hop

   Long time WMRC member Norm Leathers graciously opened his home to club members and shared his passion for everything about the Pennsylvania Railroad at this spring's layout hop. Norm has a wonderful layout which also winds its way through a tunnel to the adjoining rec room. It's always fun to watch the trains go by in the next room!

   Norm also got out his model of the Pennsylvania railroad's Aerotrain and ran it around his layout. The Aerotrain was the railroad's gallant but mistaken attempt to get more people to ride the train again in the late 1950's when passenger traffic was waning. The car-like engine resembled a 1958 Oldsmobile, and the passenger cars were made from shells of inner city buses. The lightweight passenger shells were its downfall, as they made for a very uncomfortable ride.

   However, it looked very cool, and has been a favorite of Pennsylvania model railroaders and rail fans alike - as long as they didn't have to ride in one! An Aerotrain engine is on display at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Norm visited the museum and had a picture of himself taken beside the Aerotrain. Now that's a real rail fan!

Another shot of the Aerotrain as it zips through the Pennsylvania countryside on Norm's layout.

Norm Leathers, standing at the far right,  discusses the construction and design of his layout with Glenn Klassen as a conventional steam engine rounds a sweeping curve.

Train Days at Portage la Prairie has been caneclled

   There will be no band playing at the CP Rail station at Portage La Prairie this year.

 
     We regret to announce that Train Days at Portage la Prairie has been cancelled this year.

     The Portage la Prairie Model Railroad Club has always put on a great show at the Canadian Pacific Railway Heritage Park and Interpretive Centre  (Formerly the CP Rail station). The event was usually held during the last weekend of May. But complications during the station's extensive renovations has caused them to remove their layout and place it in temporary storage.

     It is our sincere hope that Train Days will be able to be held next year. It's a great place to party, view a great looking model railroad, and do some rail fanning near the CP and CN mainlines!

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual banquet and AGM to be held this Friday

   The WMRC annual banquet and AGM will be held at Aalto's in the Canad Inns Windsor Park on Friday, May 8, starting at 6:00 PM.

   There have been some great meetings in history of mankind - the Second Vatican Council in 1962. The meeting of Canada's Fathers of Confederation in Charlottetown in 1867. But none can compare to the WMRC's AGM and annual banquet, which will be held this Friday, May 8, at the Canad Inns Windsor Park at 1034 Elizabeth Road!

    There were many things accomplished at Vatican Council II and at Charlottetown in 1867, but those meetings were DULL, DULL, DULL! They didn't have the spectacular buffet offered by Aalto's. And they certainly didn't have any door prizes or raffles for some great model railroad equipment! Did they have an elimination draw? Of course not! There were also no awards ceremonies of any sort for a model or photo contest, no Lantern award for best contribution, and no President's shield awarded at either Vatican Council II or at Charlottetown in 1867!

    But imagine if those historic meetings had all of these nifty things! Perhaps Prince Edward Island would've joined Canada right away back then! There might've been even greater reforms enacted by Vatican Council II! Sadly, they missed their chance.

    But you don't have to miss out like they did! You can still go to the WMRC's annual banquet and AGM this Friday and have a wonderful time! The fun starts at 6:00 PM. Hope to see you all there!