2009 Duluth

The 2009 GNRHS Convention was held in Duluth, Minnesota from Saturday, July 18 to Wednesday, July 22.  For additional day-by-day photos and accompanying text, click the buttons to the left or start by CLICKING HERE.  The agenda was as follows: 

CLICK HERE for a trip report by Lindsay Korst on the Duluth convention.
(from his www.gngoat.org website)

Saturday, July 18

Optional Pre-Convention Day Tour:

0730 – This was a day tour of the North Shore with stops at the Lake County Museum in Two Harbors, Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse and Taconite Harbor.  Lunch is included.  Return to Duluth by 1700.

1800 – Dinner (on your own) Blackwoods Grill – Duluth.  Transportation on your own or carpool from hotel lobby.

Sunday, July 19

0800 - 1200 - Board Meeting

1100 - 1300 - Setup Railfair, Model and Photo Contest

1300 - Welcome Meeting in lobby

1300 - 1600 - Registration

1315 - 1800 - Railfair, Model and Photo Contest

1800 – 2100 – Lake Superior Railroad Museum – hors d’oeuvres provided.  Cash bar.

Monday, July 20

0630 – 0800 - Breakfast Buffet

0730 – 1230 – Optional tour – Duluth Historic Homes and Glensheen Mansion – lunch provided.

0915 – Opening Session

0930 – Dan Jordan, Iron Range Resource & Rehabilitation Agency

1030 – Adolph Ojard – Director, Duluth Port Authority

Lunch on your own

Afternoon Presentations:

Frank Christopherson – Retired GN & BN Engineer

Ken Buehler – North Star High Speed Rail

Gary Nelson – GN – BN – BNSF Conductor

R.W. Downing – Red Ore Operations at Kelly Lake

Earl Currie – Contemporary Operations in Duluth-Superior

1715 – Boarding at LSRM – Great Northern Special Train to Two Harbors.  Dinner provided with photo run-by.

2100 – Informal chat session, open mic.

Tuesday, July 21

0630 - Breakfast Buffet

0730 - 1730 – Tour of the Iron Range.  Miner’s lunch provided.  Featured speaker:  Joe Uhan for each group.

All tours were headquartered at Iron World in Chisholm.  Sites visited included Hill-Annex mine, Soudan mine, Thunderbird open pit mine, Hull-Rust mine, Greyhound museum and Kelly Lake.

Dinner on your own

Evening Presentations:

1900 – Annual Meeting & Report

2000 – GN Head End cars with modeling tips by John Westley.

2115 – Rail Photos – Mike Power & Bill Sornsin

Wednesday, July 22

0630 - Breakfast Buffet

0800 – Tour of Duluth/Superior harbor on Vista Queen boat.

1030 – Tour of 28^th St. BNSF Yard in Superior, also ground visits of Midwest Energy, CHS Grain, Allouez Taconite facility.  Lunch included.

1500 – Return to Hotel

1730 - Happy Hour

1830 - 2200 - Banquet

2000 - 2100 - Dinner Speaker – Pat Dorin “Iron Ore Operations on the Minnesota Ranges and Duluth/Superior.”

2115 - 2200 - Door Prizes and Raffle Drawing