Come one, come all to the Portage Model Railway Club’s December open house

The Portage Model Railway Club holds only two open houses per year, and the next one is coming up on Saturday, December 16! It’s definitely worth the trip to see all of their layouts and displays in the renovated CP Rail station. If you haven’t been there lately, you’re going to be surprised and delighted at what they’ve done.

The hours of the open house are from 10AM to 3PM. Admission is five dollars. Kids under 12 are admitted for free! The station is located at 251 3rd. street NE in Portage La Prairie.

Portage is a great place for rail fanning, and its been listed as one of the top rail fanning sites by Trains magazine. The CN and CPKC mainlines run closer to each other than almost anywhere in the country, so bring your camera! Please remember that crossing tracks other than at designated road crossings is illegal and dangerous.
 

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.