Obituary of Morgan Bower Turney

Morgan Turney

April 5, 1947 to February 6, 2025

Morgan Turney passed away on February 6 of mesothelioma at Riverview Health Centre.

He was born April 5, 1947 in Hamilton, ON.

He is deeply missed by his wife, Carol; daughter Leighann and her sons Liam and Aidan; son Jay; and many friends in the Winnipeg model railroad and MOPAR communities.

Morgan joined the military as a young person and then worked in the grocery business in southern Ontario. In 1984, he married Carol. In 1987, while he was with Maple Leaf Mills as a grocery store representative, the company asked him to move to Winnipeg. Soon after relocating, Maple Leaf Mills was sold, and his job was eliminated. Morgan worked at a few jobs until he took his severance and a bank loan and started Canadian Railway Modeller (CRM) in 1989.

At its peak, CRM had about 3,800 subscribers. “It was never huge, but it was enough to keep the business afloat,” Morgan said.

From the start, his goal was to showcase the work of Canadian model railroaders. “I received some excellent articles about some amazing modelling,” he said.

Morgan also wanted to show the big American model railroad companies there was a market for Canadian products. “Before I started, there were hardly any products for Canadian railways available,” he said, noting things are different today with big American companies providing a wide variety of products for people who model Canadian railways. At the same time, CRM gave a boost to small Canadian companies, giving them space in the magazine to showcase their products.

“I like to think the magazine played a key role in seeing all that happen,” Morgan said.

The magazine, which was published six times a year, also played a role in promoting the hobby in Canada by giving clubs and others a way to promote their shows. It also provided hobby shops an inexpensive way to become better known.

In addition to the magazine, Morgan made Canadian train-themed Christmas cards, postcards and collector cards (which he liked giving out to children at train shows), and railway books through North Kildonan Publications, his publishing company. He also produced railway art prints, lapel pins, collectible HO scale box cars and even a CRM license plate holder—something that dovetailed nicely with his other passion for Chrysler/MOPAR cars.

In between, Morgan found time to do some of his own modelling, serving as president and program director for the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club. He also founded the city’s annual train show, now called Mega Trains.

When it was time for him to retire, Morgan hoped the magazine could continue with a new publisher. But the Internet, with its easy and free access to information about model railroading, coupled with a decline in subscribers and drop in advertising, meant CRM was no longer sustainable. The final issue appeared in summer, 2017.

Looking back, Morgan drew satisfaction from the contribution the magazine made to the hobby in Canada.

“It took me and the whole Canadian model railroad community to heights we never would have dreamed reachable as Canadian modellers,” he said, adding it was hard work. But, he said, “it was also a lot of fun. I met some wonderful people and made many good friends across the country. I have no regrets.”

All are welcome to join the family in a celebration of Morgan’s life on February 19, 1:00 p.m.  at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 215, 215 Maxwell King Dr, East Saint Paul.

Donations in Morgan’s memory can be made to Riverview Health Centre or to Palliative Care Manitoba.