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2026 NNGC

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Modular Layouts

Minneapolis Cloquet and Duluth

Scale: HO Mike Engler’s “Minneapolis Cloquet and Duluth” is a logging shortline railroad portraying the lumber industry in northern Minnesota in 1929. The modules were compiled using fifteen award winning dioramas that featured numerous finely detailed structures and scenes. Two of these modules were awarded 'Best of Show' models at previous National Narrow Gauge … [Read more...] about Minneapolis Cloquet and Duluth

Minnesota Free-mo Modelers

Scale: N Free-mo N-scale in Minnesota has become one of the largest N-scale Free-mo groups in the US. We are model railroad enthusiasts who construct, operate and display both HO (1:87 scale) and N (1:160 scale) modular model railroads at different locations in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. For the 46th NNGC, we will be displaying our N scale modular … [Read more...] about Minnesota Free-mo Modelers

Gold Canyon Mining Company

Scale: On30 The Gold Canyon Mining Company is a modular layout built by Anthony Selvaggio and Tom Fraase in Springfield, Illinois. This mountain railroad consists of a canyon with two mountains on each side with mining operations and campsites being fed by Gold Canyon Electric and Water. Era/Locale: The Mountains, early 20th CenturySize: 5′ X 12′Number of modules: … [Read more...] about Gold Canyon Mining Company

Great Lakes HOn30 Module Group

Scale: HOn30 The Great Lakes HOn30 Module Group (GLHOn30MG) consists of about a dozen members scattered through Michigan and Ohio, brought together by our shared love of the Maine Two Footers. Many of our modules display actual scenes from the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway; but all follow the general theme of northern New England in the early Twentieth … [Read more...] about Great Lakes HOn30 Module Group

Northfield and Southeastern Railroad

Scale: On30 The Northfield and Southeastern Railroad is a small narrow gauge O scale layout. It represents a small forgotten railroad of the late fifties somewhere in the Midwest. Designed as a basic oval, it has four manual sidings and DCC control. Structures represent a small town urban setting when life was simpler. Rolling stock is a combination of … [Read more...] about Northfield and Southeastern Railroad

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Single and Two-Day Tickets Now Available!

You can’t take in our entire convention?  Single-Day and Two-Day tickets are now available for you to purchase to attend and participate in the fun!

CLINICS, TOURS, & MORE

Home Layout Tours

The 46th National Narrow Gauge Convention features many fine home layouts … [Read More...] about Home Layout Tours

Inspirational Clinics

High quality clinics are one of the most popular features of the annual … [Read More...] about Inspirational Clinics

Vendors and Exhibitors

The vendor and exhibitor rooms are one of the most popular features of the … [Read More...] about Vendors and Exhibitors

Convention Hotel

We are excited to once again host the 46th National Narrow Gauge Convention at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington, located at

46th NNGC Promo Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mP8HejuXQE

Important Dates

Most important dates.

46th NNGC: September 2 — 5, 2026

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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

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