2015 Twin Cities Convention Info
Welcome to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota! Our convention is probably as close as we could come to the border between the Cities. We are just off I-35W, using the Industrial Boulevard Exit (north of the University of Minnesota campus) to arrive at our hotel, the Ramada Plaza.
Our special GNRHS hotel rates begin on Friday evening and continue through Wednesday night.
The Saturday tour has been arranged by some of our members, and can be selected/purchased through separate registration. It will be a special “Earl Currie Limited” train tour that will go from Osceola, WI to Withrow, MN, and then return.
On Sunday, the morning will be the Board Meeting, and others are encouraged to attend a church of their choice. In the afternoon we will have our usual Rail Fair and contest for models, pictures, etc. Then in the evening we will have two speakers, which will give us a full day.
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings we will have our alternate/spouse tours. Monday the tour will ride the Jonathon Paddleford boat on the Mississippi River, with a lunch. On Tuesday the tour will go to the Minnesota Science Museum, and includes the latest I-MAX movie, and then follows up by going to the Como Park Conservatory. Wednesday is the day to get the shopping out of the system, as we have arranged a bus to get you to the Mall of America.
The presentations will be ongoing during the times when these tours operate, as we have twenty almost-an-hour-long presentations. On Tuesday there will be an All-Day tour for everyone which will ultimately give everyone the chance to have a tour of the totally redone St. Paul Union Depot ($240 Million), and the Jackson Street Roundhouse (Our East Archives) and Minnesota Transportation Museum. After completing these areas, we will arrive at the James J. Hill mansion to be greeted by James J. Hill and Mary Hill impersonators. We will have lunch there and have a special tour of the mansion, along with the pipe organ being played, etc. It should be great!
In the evening those interested in model railroads will have a chance to view three different model railroads.
On Wednesday we will continue our presentations until about 4:00PM, when folks will have time to get organized for the banquet. We have some great raffle prizes this year, and it should be a good time. Our three choice menu for the banquet includes (for all menus) a garden salad, chef’s choice of vegetable, warm rolls and butter, coffee, tea, iced tea, or milk, along with an Italian Almond Cream Cake dessert. We have a FISH choice of Almond Crusted Walleye with a Chardonnay Thyme Cream Sauce and Multigrain Wild Rice Pilaf. Our CHICKEN choice is a Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast, with a Grain Mustard Cream Sauce and Seasoned and Roasted Red Potatoes. Our third choice BEEF is a Grilled Flat Iron Steak, topped with Bordelaise Sauce and Red Skin Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives. All of the choices appear to be very desirable, so we should conclude on a very positive note.
Registration is available online or via the convention registration form included in the March issue of the Goat which is also available for download here.
We hope to see you in the Twin Cities! And make sure that you schedule the 2016 Convention in Spokane, WA, into your calendar, as it should be a great event, in September 2016.
