Murray Brown wins five model contest awards

WMRC model contest chair Marvin Fetch (R) presents the club's best in show award to Murray Brown at the WMRC's annual banquet and AGM, held at the Canad Inns Polo Park.

Murray Brown, who walked away with the WMRC’s 2025 President’s Shield award and the Robert Weaver memorial award for the second year in a row, also swept the club’s annual model contest with no less than five awards. 

Murray won first, second and third place in the motive power category for his models of the CP 5369 diesel, a Kershaw ballast regulator and a Via Rail bus. He also won second place in the freight car category for his model of an air dump car. He also won the coveted best in show award for his unique diorama of a track with culverts. 

Murray won so many awards at the WMRC’s annual banquet that other some members joked that he should’ve chosen a seat closer to the podium, and that he was going to have to rent a truck to carry off all off the awards that he won that night. Congratulations, Murray!

 

                   Three of Murray's award winning models were placed together for this shot.

                   Murray won third place in the motive category for his model of a Via Rail bus.

    Murray won second place in the motive power category for his model of a Kershaw ballast regulator.

The Assiniboine Park Railroad makes the cover of the Winnipeg Free Press business section

Our good friend Tim Buzunis of the Assiniboine Park Railroad made the front page of the business section of the Winnipeg Free Press last week! 

The beloved train missed a few days in May due to the extremely dry conditions when they weren't allowed to run due to the fire hazard. But now the Crown Metal made, 61 year old American 4-4-0, the only live ride-on steam train operating in a city park in Canada, is running every day, all summer long from noon to six. Come on down to the park and take a ride today!

 

The Manitoba Mega Train Show is now the Manitoba Train and Family Expo

 The Manitoba Mega Train Show has now become the Manitoba Train and Family Expo. There still will be plenty of trains to see, and there will be lots of other hobbies on display too!

The ride-on mega train is gone and has been replaced by a wide variety of hobbies, including slot car racing, hot wheels, and a display from the Manitoba Doll Club. The Manitoba Lego Users Group (MBLUG) will return with their great Lego exhibit and a play area for the children. Visitors will get a chance to fly a simulator of a model plane.

Join the Lego building competition for a chance to win a prize, and don’t forget to put your name in for the door prize of a ready to run Thomas the Tank Engine HO train set! There will be face painting and many vendors selling all sort of model railroad equipment in all gauges.

This great fun family event takes place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 at Red River Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Avenue. General admission is $12.00. Youths ages 4 to 12 get in for $6.00. Kids three years of age and under get in for free! Hours are from 9 to 5 on Saturday and from 9 to 4 on Sunday.