Great Northern Railway Historical Society

Welcome to the Great Northern Railway Historical Society

The GNRHS is dedicated to the preservation, study, and history of one of America's greatest railroads, the Great Northern Railway.

To Society Members, we offer carefully-researched Reference Sheets, a quarterly GN Goat publication, an annual calendar, discounts on model kits, books, CD's and other items, and an annual convention to discover all things Great Northern. Learn more.

For researchers the GNRHS Archives hold historic photos and documents on a wide range of Great Northern subjects.

For a quick overview of all GNRHS has to offer, explore the menu above. JOIN GNRHS now!

Latest News

2024 Convention Registration is Live!

UPDATE: FRIDAY AUG 16 IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER at the discounted $95 rate – it goes up to $120 after then.

The Everett convention is September 14-19, 2024 and will focus on the history of the Great Northern in Everett, WA and surroundings, with tours and presentations. The banquet, raffle and the Rail Fair including Model Display are also part of this year’s great line-up. Click here to learn more.

Registration is available online or in the June GOAT magazine. The current timecard is below. If you prefer to pay by check, you may download a registration form.

And click here to enter the convention raffle of various interesting GN-related items – open to all, even if you don’t attend!

  Posted on June 13, 2024, by


Welcome to our newest officers, Paul O’Neil and Gary Thurow

Continuing our tradition of Canadian secretaries, Paul hails from Alberta and succeeds Thomas Carr. We thank Tom for his years of service, and he’ll continue serving on the GNRHS board through 2025. Welcome Paul!

Gary Thurow of Spokane, WA is our new Vice-President, succeeding Dan Bolyard, who we also thank for his service. Gary has been on the Membership Recruitment for some time and is a familiar face at Northwest train shows hosting the GNRHS table.

If you have some spare time and would like to help the GNRHS, we’re always looking for volunteers. If you enjoy events and hosting, you might consider assisting Mary McGlothlin with convention planning and operations. Mac McCulloch could use some help with the online store, which utilizes Shopify software and is pretty interesting for those inclined to online tools. Reach out to convention@gnrhs.org or store@gnrhs.org respectively.

  Posted on January 23, 2024, by


The December Goat is out, and GNRHS store has a sale!

Most members will see it in your mailboxes in the coming week. Digital subscribers will receive your download link shortly. This issue features a variety of articles along with Reference Sheet 437 on GN Telephony plus another issue of Modeler’s Pages focused on model railroad operations.

The GNRHS Company Store is open for the holidays with kits, books, apparel and more, plus a special Christmas Sale on many items.

  Posted on December 8, 2023, by


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