Manitoba Mega Train 2019

Winnipeg’s premiere model train event, Manitoba Mega Train, is happening this weekend. I attended on Saturday morning and here are some photos and observations.

Manitoba Mega Train 2019
Manitoba Mega Train 2019

The show filled the Red River Exhibition building. Someone told me there were 21 layouts here and I believe it. It seems a bit larger than 2018. There were layouts along the “left” side, “other” groups like Lego, the ship builders, face painters and others within the miniature railway loop, and vendors along the back.

The Layouts

Echo Valley Railroad Guild
Echo Valley Railroad Guild

The layouts were a combination of local groups and groups from “afar”. It was nice to see a couple of layouts from Regina, including the Echo Valley Railroad Guild and the Mainliners.

Highball Links Golf Club
Highball Links Golf Club
Doug and Florence McBride
Doug and Florence McBride

It was nice to see Doug and Florence McBride’s layout from Gladstone. They have quite a few farm vehicles represented.

Small but mighty - the Bear Creek Layout
Small but mighty – the Bear Creek Layout
The Mainliners from Regina
The Mainliners from Regina

I really like the FreeMo style layouts. It’s interesting to see them year over year as they add more and more scenery to each part of the layout.

The WinNtrak group
The WinNtrak group

Winnipeg’s own WinNTrak group had their gorgeous layout again. It’s really quite well done and worth seeing.

Fascinating the kids!
Fascinating the kids!

I didn’t see a name on this one but I like it, and so did that little boy!

Fisher-Price GeoTrax was well represented
Fisher-Price GeoTrax was well represented

Is this model trains? Sure!

On the move
On the move

I really liked this autonomous truck on the HO FreeMo group’s layout. It follows a wire embedded in the layout, and it even stops at the crossing for trains.

Running the Lego trains
Running the Lego trains
Lego Train Models
Lego Train Models

The Groups

Manitoba Model Soldiers Society
Manitoba Model Soldiers Society

One group that I don’t remember seeing in 2018 was the Manitoba Model Soldiers Society. I think it’s great that Mega Trains isn’t just trains, but includes modelers of different kinds. The more the merrier!

The CNRHA was well represented
The CNRHA was well represented

The Canadian National Railways Historical Association was well represented. I talked with Grant (pictured above) about grain elevators for quite a while… I fear I can talk one’s ears off about elevators! Their magazine CN Lines is well worth subscribing to. I bought the back issues DVD ( (http://www.cnrha.ca/node/985) so I don’t have to keep all the paper copies any more.

Morgan in his element
Morgan in his element

Morgan Turney of Canadian Railway Modeller magazine fame was in his element… tinkering with models!

Models from the International Plastic Modellers Society
Models from the International Plastic Modellers Society
The Prairie Dog Central
The Prairie Dog Central

The Prairie Dog Central Railway had good representation, including their mascot with an accompanying musician!

The Miniature Railway

Riding the miniature railway
Riding the miniature railway

The miniature railway is always a popular attraction. Note the face-paint on a few of the children – done at the show!

Even miniature railways need maintenance
Even miniature railways need maintenance

The Loot

I really wasn’t intending on buying anything… but I did end up with a few items. I mentioned the CN Lines back issue DVD. I also bought this Athearn SD70I – not quite my era but the price was right!

Need to snap that body down again

Go There

Mega Train is open again on Sunday September 29 at the Red River Exhibition in Winnipeg. 9AM – 5PM!

See Also

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