Welcome to the Home of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club!!

Program Director

Please select a station that you would like to visit.

History

The Winnipeg Model Railroad club was founded in 1955 by a small group of 50 charter members. The original location of the club was the CPR Rules Room located at the CPR station on Higgins Avenue in Winnipeg. The club grew slowly at first and by about 1962 it was 125 members strong with a clubroom at the Veteran’s Hall at the Via Rail Station in Winnipeg. Throughout the years, several operating groups sprang up from the WMRC, including the HO scale Gateway Western.

Purpose

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club is a non-profit organization full of fun-loving members whose purpose is to promote the interest, knowledge, operation and enjoyment of scale railway modeling. 

In other words, we model railroads! That means that we try to duplicate not only the   look of railroads but also their operation. We can help you to achieve authenticity and realism whether you prefer the nostalgic steam or the high-tech power of modern diesels. 

Most of the enjoyment of model railroading comes from the many hobbies within the hobby.  The club has many very experienced members willing to share their expertise in: 

The great thing is that you can model the railway that you like best and do it the way that you want!

Executive

President  Norm Leathers

VP            Sid Greenstone

Secretary  Margaret Loewen

Treasurer    Dennis Rietze

Divisions  Bob King

Program    Becky Mendelsohn

Lantern     Phil Mendelsohn

Librarian   John Sinclair

Past Pres  Morgan Turney

Meetings

Monthly meetings are held September through April on the second Friday of each month (unless a holiday intervenes). Meetings begin at 7:30 PM sharp.  Westworth United 

Next Meeting: Friday, 11 SEPT. 2009 SEE ABOVE FOR LOCATION

WMRC Name Badges

WMRC name badges are available for $6.75. Please contact me if you need a badge. - Dave Downie

Presentations

After a short business meeting, the club presents 2 or 3 demonstrations beginning at 8:00 PM, slides and/or films on aspects of model and real (prototype) railroading. A "Clinic Carnival" featuring five to ten simultaneous demonstrations is usually held during the February program.

Draws

Draws are held at every meeting to win kits, tools and related items.

Auction

Members buy and sell model train equipment at the March meeting.

Library

The WMRC Library has over 450 books, movies, and many periodicals on scale model   and prototype railways and it is open to members before each meeting and during what's called "The Coke Break."

Annual Model & Photography Contest

SEE TIMETABLE BOARD ABOVE FOR THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES.

Each year, the WMRC holds it's Annual Model & Photography Contest which takes place at the club's Annual Open House on the Saturday and Sunday after the April meeting. Experienced modellers judge a variety of model categories using guidelines set out by the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA).  In addition, a photo contest is held and judged by experienced professional photographers. 

Model Contest / Photo Contest entry forms and rules are available from. http://www.rephil.org/entryforms/index.html   

Annual Banquet

The WMRC holds an Annual Banquet each year on the second Friday of May, for members, spouses and guests. Activities include a sumptuous dinner, executive reports and raffle prizes. The banquet is also the club's Awards Night where presentations are awarded to the winners from the annual show.

SEE TIMETABLE BOARD ABOVE FOR THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES.

Layout Tours

Some afternoon and evening layout tours are planned during the year to view some of the finest in the world!

Operating Groups

"Sub-Clubs" or operating subdivisions within the WMRC include:

• Gateway Western - The Gateway Western built a medium-sized layout at the VIA station, which saw many visitors over the years. In 1996, the permanent layout was dismantled, and the group had a portable layout for shows and exhibitions.   Unfortunately, this group disbanded in February of 2000.  The Gateway Western as of January 2004 has been reborn and has moved into a new home in the basement of Gooch's Hobby Shop on Sherbrook. A group of dedicated members of the WMRC are busy making it operate. More info as per hours and contact people will be added as they are provided. For info now contact Bob King or Brian Lennox.
• Modular Layout Groups - Over the last few years, several modular groups have formed from some members of the WMRC. These include an N-Trak group called WIN-TRAK, and one HO scale group:  the Renegade HO Modular Railway The group has donated the display to the Winnipeg Railway Museum at the Via Station and is on display as part of the museum. For now their web page is still operational.  
• A recently formed modular group is looking for members, and that people could contact Jeff Keddy
  (jskeddy@yahoo.com) or Ian Plett (trmodel_19@yahoo.com) if interested.
   

Public Shows

SEE TIMETABLE BOARD ABOVE FOR THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES.

Public Shows include an Annual Open House in April put on by the WMRC. Winnipeg's other modular groups put on shows at shopping malls throughout the year.

Guests and New Members 

The Club welcomes you to its meetings with the aim of helping you enjoy yourself so much that you'll want to join. 

Regardless of your skill level or area of interest, there is something for everybody. The club emphasizes education and entertainment, so you'll learn a great deal, meet new friends and have fun!

Click here for a form that you can print out and send in for a membership!

Members on the Web

Click Here to see a list of Members on the Web, as well as our 'Page-O-Links' Currently this section is being re-built so the link will take you to the AVR Link page which will get you into to larger world of railroading. 

The club has a mail list, which people can join for e-mail discussion.
 People can sign up by going to

http://www.socialmotors.com/mailman/listinfo/wmrc

or they can contact phil@rephil.org for help.

Member's Home Railways and Layouts

A GROWING COLLECTION OF PICTORIAL REPORTS ON HOME LAYOUTS IN THE CLUB

Click Here for a page of members who have shared information and pictures on there home layouts or who are involved in larger groups or railways. This page will be under construction as new members add information on their empires. Is your railway listed?????

Contact the Web Master  if you have an update for this site.

BACK TO THE ASSINIBOINE VALLEY RAILWAY HOME PAGE

Last updated 24 MAY, 2009 by Bill Taylor of Winnipeg,  Web Master