Group photo with J.J. and Mary Hill at their house
The 2015 GNRHS Convention held from July 18 to 22 was another success. Over 200 members and family came out and enjoyed a great convention in beautifully mild weather. A great mix of tours and presentations as well as the ever popular Railfair provided something for everybody to enjoy.
Great tours were enjoyed of the BNSF Northtown Diesel Shop (who really went out of there way to make the conventioneers feel welcome), the Minnesota Transportation Museum and our GNRHS Archives, renovated St. Paul Union Depot (SPUD) and the James J. Hill house. Topping it all off was a great ride on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway all Great Northern, Empire Builder Green and Orange, train behind GNRHS’ own Great Northern SD45 #400 ‘Hustle Muscle’. The Earl Currie Limited train ride even included a photo run-by.
Great Northern modelers were treated to some great models in the modeling contest held during the Railfair (the swap meet), and on tours of three beautiful Great Northern themed layouts as well as the opportunity to operate on Jeff Otto’s magnificent Missabe Northern layout the night before the convention.
Presentations were varied and informative ranging from modeling the Great Northern to GN litigation, and the resurrection of the St. Paul Union Depot.
As usual the banquet closed off the convention at which James J. Hill spoke to his employees and answered questions (a great performance of J.J. Hill impersonator Father Ken Pierre). The always popular raffle and door prize drawings closed off the evening and this year’s convention.
A great time was had by all!
Next year’s convention will be in Spokane, WA, September 17-21 and promises to be another memorable one. Mark your calendars!
One comment
Russ Samuel: I sure wish I had been there.
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