From miniature locomotives to remote-controlled aircraft, the Manitoba Train and Hobby Expo returned to Red River Exhibition Place over the weekend, drawing families, collectors and curious newcomers from across the Prairies. Pierce Carloni, a young hobbyist from Winnipeg, rediscovered his passion last Christmas. “It’s a once-a-year thing for fans across Manitoba,” he said. “You got all kinds of stuff – your model trains, Legos, even tanks and ships. It’s amazing.” Susan Dorge, one of the event coordinators, said the expo is about more than trains. “It’s the fact of (people from all generations) coming together,” she said. “This year we have the RC aircraft people, we have T-track from Thunder Bay, we have the HO from Thunder Bay … every year, we try to expand it.” Dorge emphasized the importance of interprovincial collaboration, with clubs from Saskatchewan and Ontario joining Manitoba groups. “It’s important because it gets a travelling situation between the three provinces. We go to some of theirs, they come to ours. It builds a friendship,” she said. Dorge added that it’s important to have events like the expo to foster community spirit. “This is one way we can give back to the community, and get the community involved with each other,” she said. “You know, Friendly Manitoba. (We) got to stick together.”
