50th Annual Great Northern Railway Historical Society Convention Comes to St. Cloud Next Month

Correction: The story initially said the convention would be at the River’s Edge Convention Center. It is being held at the Kelly Inn next door.

(KNSI) — St. Cloud and Waite Park have deep ties to the railroads, beyond the 70 trains that still pass through the area daily.

“Everybody in town, I think, knows where the little red caboose is on 3rd Street North,” says Barry Schreiber, St. Cloud Area Rail Legacy Museum or STARail volunteer. “That caboose was built a literal stone’s throw away down the hill at the White Park Great Northern car shops.”

The Great Northern Railway Historical Society has scheduled its annual convention at the Kelly Inn in St. Cloud next month. They have a convention somewhere along the Great Northern Line every year. This is the 50th anniversary, and Schreiber says it’s a big one. “This is a group of about 2,000 members. We’re honored and pleased to have that convention here in St. Cloud.”

The convention is on track to run July 22nd through the 26th.

There were up to 1,500 men employed at the car shops. Schreiber says it was hard, dirty work with long hours but good pay. The occupation was often passed down through four generations of families. The shops built box cars used throughout the Great Northern Line.

Beyond the convention, there will be side trips to the Kandiyohi County Historical Society and Willmar BNSF Depot, a tour of the Martin Marietta St. Cloud Ballast Quarry, a visit to STARail and the car shops site, and a tour of the Princeton Depot and Mille Lacs County Historical Museum.

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