Great Northern Railway Historical Society

05/30/2026

GN Related History!

05/30/2026

May 29, 1916: James Jerome Hill dies in Saint Paul, Minnesota at the age of 78.

Hill was born in Rockwood- near Guelph, Ontario in 1838.

After moving to the United States, Hill became a member of the syndicate that would build the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1883 he resigned in protest to the decision to build the CPR main line north of Lake Superior rather than through the U.S.

J.J. Hill became a mogul of railway expansion from his adopted home of Saint Paul, later constructing what would be come the Great Northern Railway from St. Paul to Seattle, Washington. This was Ithe only transcontinental line built without federal subsidy.

The Hill family had many impacts that are still visible today, including his former mansion home in Saint Paul on Summit Avenue.

Hill’s legacy is still commemorated with Great Northern’s best known passenger train, still running under the flag of Amtrak. The “Empire Builder”.

05/28/2026

Rocky remembers:

May 27th, 1931:

An estimated F3 tornado struck the eastbound Empire Builder passenger train in Clay County, Minnesota. The storm lifted five passenger cats off the rails, carrying one into the air and dropping it roughly 80 feet from the tracks. Only the 136-ton locomotive and its coal-tender remained on the rails. Two people were killed and 57 were hurt.

05/25/2026

The GNRHS wishes you a safe and reflective Memorial Day.

05/25/2026

Rocky looks back:

May 23rd, 1909: Just in time for the summer travel season, GN and partner Chicago Burlington & Quincy launched the Chicago - Seattle "Oriental Limited" as the premiere varnish along the line!
The "Oriental Limited" provided an updated luxury service on this transcontinental route.
Photo: By Great Northern Railway - Public Domain

05/18/2026

The Great Northern operated into British Columbia and Manitoba. The 3rd Monday in May is a stat holiday- Victoria Day Holiday in Canada- and the official kick off to summer.

Here are some scenes of the Great Northern operations in Canada over different decades.

Feel free to share your own memories of the GN in Canada.

05/17/2026

Rocky Looks back:

In 1926 three locomotive bells were placed on Swiftcurrent, Piegan, and Siyeh passes, deep in Glacier National Park, along with a fourth bell installed in the summer of 1929 on Mt. Henry.

The Great Northern Railway and The Glacier Park Hotel Company wanted to give visitors the unique experience of ringing a loud, clear bell high up in the mountains.

In 1943, the bells were removed and turned in on a World War II scrap metal drive.

This NPS Photo shows a woman standing next to the bell at Piegan Pass sometime before the bells were removed.

05/16/2026

This date in Great Northern Railway History- May 15th, 1964.

After years of faithful service at the helm of the passenger and mail runs, 4-8-4 #2584 was placed on display at the depot at Havre.

This S-2 class locomotive is the only one of this class preserved.

Passengers traveling through on Amtrak's "Empire Builder" can view the #2584 at the Western side of the Havre Depot.

Wouldn't it be great to see her under steam again? Do you have a model of 2584? Share with us!

05/14/2026

ROCKY REMINDS YOU to renew your membership to the Great Northern Railway Historical Society. If you haven’t renewed already, you’ll miss out on our publications, exclusive offers on items in the GNRHS store.

Renew today:

Join GNRHS or renew your membership! UPDATE: Canadian and International memberships are now available at the much-lower US price if you select digital delivery rather than print, which has become very expensive to mail. Choose digital and save!

05/12/2026

Achtung- U-Boats!

A '"jolt" of new U25Bs parade along the high iron. The railroad rostered 24 U25Bs, Nos. 2500–2523. Many U-Boats became shrouded in BN's Cascade Green, and were renumbered into the 5400 series after the Burlington Northern merger.

Photo location not disclosed.