The 46th National Narrow Gauge Convention contest committee looks forward to seeing your great models and photographs in Bloomington, Minnesota. The annual model and photography contest at National Narrow Gauge Conventions is regarded by many to be the most prestigious contest in the country. We will gladly display your models and photos to the many hundreds of attendees at our … [Read more...] about Model and Photography Contest
2026 NNGC
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2026 NNGC FAQs
Here are Frequently Asked Questions about the convention:
Minnesota’s Three Major Railroads
From Minnesota Digital Library:
“The growth of Minnesota can be tied directly to the growth of railroads. The railroads supported farmers, millers, miners, and loggers by moving the raw materials they produced to sell at markets. In turn, the railroads brought other goods and products to the people to build their homes, businesses, and towns. Railroads also brought immigrants to settle the land and provided jobs and income to laborers and investors.
Three of Minnesota’s major railroads were the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern, and the Soo Line. While these three were not the only railroads that operated in Minnesota, they had a major impact on the state.
The U.S. Congress chartered the Northern Pacific Railway in 1864 to build a transcontinental railroad from Lake Superior to the Pacific coast. When it was completed in 1883, the railroad had laid nearly 6,800 miles of track through Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Its headquarters were in St. Paul, Minnesota.”
Minnesota Lingo
From ThievesRiver.com:
1) Uff da
Background: A Scandinavian import, particularly from Norwegian, “uff da” is widely used to express dismay, exhaustion or sometimes even relief. It embodies the stoic yet expressive nature of Minnesotans.
Example: “Uff da! I forgot my wallet at the cabin. Now I can’t pay for the meat raffle tickets, gosh darn it!”
2) You Betcha
Background: This phrase epitomizes the friendly and positive attitude of Minnesotans. It’s often said with enthusiasm and is used to mean “absolutely” or “you can count on it.”
Example: “Do you want to come to the hockey game this weekend? Grain Belts are on me!” – “You betcha!”
Read more at ThievesRiver.com