St. Croix Railroad

Scale: Multiple

The St. Croix Railroad (SCRR) was founded in 1971 and is a hobby organization primarily dedicated to Miniature Railroads. The membership numbers several hundred men and women coming from all walks of life, ranging in age from under 8 to over 80. Many of the members live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and Wisconsin, however the membership ranges throughout the United States including the Dakotas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California and outside the USA – Manitoba, Canada and beyond. We have approximately ten acres of beautiful wooded and rolling hill land, of which nine is occupied by three discrete railroad lines in 7½ inch gauge, 4¾ inch gauge and a mixed gauge elevated track with 5, 4¾, 3½, 2½ and 1¼ inch gauges. Locomotives are Live Steam, diesel, gasoline and battery powered.

The St. Croix Railroad (SCRR) is incorporated as a non-profit organization by the State of Minnesota. The organization is financed by member dues and donations, as well as by public donations. Donations may be tax deductible as determined by the IRS under section 501(c)(3). Free will donations are appreciated and a $5 donation is recommended.

Era/Locale: No specific era, beautiful wooded rolling hills
Size: 10 acres

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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