Register / Merchandise

The 2026 National Narrow Gauge Convention committee thanks you for your interest in registering for our convention.

It is our desire that your experience is an excellent one!

Registration

Due to the size of our convention staff, we have elected to use WHOVA™, the award-winning event application and management application to assist us in providing you a convention experience that allows for both your participation and interaction. By clicking on the appropriate registration type link below, you will be redirected to WHOVA™ to complete your convention registration and add-on ticket purchases.

Please note: ⚠ Do NOT use your browser’s ‘Back Button’ once you’ve begun your registration process in WHOVA™. You will lose the information and selections you have made in your registration and have to start over! To avoid this, please use the Back Button(s) provided inside of the WHOVA™ application instead.

Attendee Registration Link

Vendor Registration Link

Merchandise

Convention clothing merchandise shown below are available for you to purchase as add-on tickets in WHOVA™. Shirt type, size and pricing are displayed in each add-on ticket.

The images below are examples of each shirt and actual color may vary slightly.

46th National Narrow Gauge Convention – Long Sleeve Denim Shirt

46th National Narrow Gauge Convention – Short Sleeve Denim Shirt

46th National Narrow Gauge Convention – Polo Shirt

46th National Narrow Gauge Convention – T-Shirt

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.”

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