| It's all about me... yawn. |
Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your interest in my website and hope you enjoy what you have found. Allow me to introduce myself. My
name is Christopher Muller and have been interested in trains my entire life. I'm told my interest in trains developed before I was even out of
diapers (and yes that was more than a few years ago). My interest in trains has developed into an obsession, and I'd dare to say a compulsion! I
have been an active model railroader since about five years old, with my first train set being a Tyco (quality product, I know) Train Set. I have been
an active member of the Northern Iron Horse Model Railroad Society for several years, and enjoy the company the Society has. I have an
extensive collection of HO Scale models, mainly BNSF and DMIR rolling stock. I also have some Canadian stuff as well.
name is Christopher Muller and have been interested in trains my entire life. I'm told my interest in trains developed before I was even out of
diapers (and yes that was more than a few years ago). My interest in trains has developed into an obsession, and I'd dare to say a compulsion! I
have been an active model railroader since about five years old, with my first train set being a Tyco (quality product, I know) Train Set. I have been
an active member of the Northern Iron Horse Model Railroad Society for several years, and enjoy the company the Society has. I have an
extensive collection of HO Scale models, mainly BNSF and DMIR rolling stock. I also have some Canadian stuff as well.
Who is Christopher S. Muller?
I've been photographing trains since I was about seven or eight years
old. Of course, most of the stuff I shot I wouldn't dare share today, but
the memories are worth it. I started getting more serious in railroad
photography in about 2003. I'm often asked if I submit my stuff to
magazines or enter contests, and the short answer is no. I haven't
submitted anything to magazines, and the few publications I have been
published in have all requested use of my photographs. The main
reason I take photographs is for my own personal enjoyment, and the few
people that stumble on my little corner of real estate on the internet.
old. Of course, most of the stuff I shot I wouldn't dare share today, but
the memories are worth it. I started getting more serious in railroad
photography in about 2003. I'm often asked if I submit my stuff to
magazines or enter contests, and the short answer is no. I haven't
submitted anything to magazines, and the few publications I have been
published in have all requested use of my photographs. The main
reason I take photographs is for my own personal enjoyment, and the few
people that stumble on my little corner of real estate on the internet.
I have lived in Cass Lake my entire life, with the brief exception of
when I was attending classes at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community
College. In addition to studying Law Enforcement and Communications, I
also studied the vast railroad network leading to and from the Twin Ports
of Duluth and Superior. I enjoyed observing the final days of operation
of the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range, "my railroad" as I used to refer to
it as. Just like I watched the Soo Line turn into the Canadian Pacific, and
the Burlington Northern into the BNSF, I watched the DMIR turn into the
Canadian National. Damn Canadians. Blame Canada.
when I was attending classes at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community
College. In addition to studying Law Enforcement and Communications, I
also studied the vast railroad network leading to and from the Twin Ports
of Duluth and Superior. I enjoyed observing the final days of operation
of the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range, "my railroad" as I used to refer to
it as. Just like I watched the Soo Line turn into the Canadian Pacific, and
the Burlington Northern into the BNSF, I watched the DMIR turn into the
Canadian National. Damn Canadians. Blame Canada.
In 2005 I started my career in Law Enforcement with the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, based in Cass
Lake. After my tour there, I was hired as a Communications Officer with the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. In
February 2008 I accepted a promotion as the Emergency Communications Team Leader and the Assistant
Emergency Management Director. I work closely with the current 911 Director and Emergency Manager, who
brings several decades of service to the citizens of Beltrami County. My career goals have changed over the
years, first from meteorology to being a police officer, and eventually starting a career in Emergency
Management. I feel I am fortunate at a young age to have found a career I enjoy. I consider it my niche. In
addition to Emergency Management, I do dispatch quite frequently. People often talk down to dispatchers,
especially the public. It isn't uncommon to hear, "well, you are just a dispatcher." I tell my partners not to get
offended by that statement. We are just dispatchers, but what exactly is a dispatcher? If the public only knew
everything we did, they'd know we are more than just a dispatcher.
Lake. After my tour there, I was hired as a Communications Officer with the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. In
February 2008 I accepted a promotion as the Emergency Communications Team Leader and the Assistant
Emergency Management Director. I work closely with the current 911 Director and Emergency Manager, who
brings several decades of service to the citizens of Beltrami County. My career goals have changed over the
years, first from meteorology to being a police officer, and eventually starting a career in Emergency
Management. I feel I am fortunate at a young age to have found a career I enjoy. I consider it my niche. In
addition to Emergency Management, I do dispatch quite frequently. People often talk down to dispatchers,
especially the public. It isn't uncommon to hear, "well, you are just a dispatcher." I tell my partners not to get
offended by that statement. We are just dispatchers, but what exactly is a dispatcher? If the public only knew
everything we did, they'd know we are more than just a dispatcher.
It seems all to often in our lives we concentrate on the negative. I am no different. I see and experience a lot of emotionally taxing events and
situations in my life. There are three things that help me vent and relieve stress. First is railfanning. Second is model railroading. Third, and most
important is my nephew Darren. My family (especially me) was blessed with this bundle of joy in 2003. Over the years, he's developed quite a love
for railroading and trains. I have no idea how that happened, but some how his mother finds it fit to blame me. We enjoy spending hours playing
trains and watching the real thing. Darren isn't much of a traveler, but we do go places on occasion. Some day we both plan on making a trip on
Amtrak, Darren is just a tad too young yet to travel overnight without his mom. He's so cute because he realizes it. On a trip to Duluth one day with
just me and him, he was missing his mom and said while sniffling, "Yup. I knew it." I asked what he knew, and he replied, "I knew it. I should have
stayed home." After a few miles, he was happy again and we spent the entire afternoon chasing trains on the Iron Range. It is nice to have a kid to
play with and love, but yet be able to turn him back over to mom when the day gets too long (which isn't very often). I've never seen a child play so
delicately and careful with the fragile trains like he has. He can put an entire train on the tracks with no wheels off than I can.
situations in my life. There are three things that help me vent and relieve stress. First is railfanning. Second is model railroading. Third, and most
important is my nephew Darren. My family (especially me) was blessed with this bundle of joy in 2003. Over the years, he's developed quite a love
for railroading and trains. I have no idea how that happened, but some how his mother finds it fit to blame me. We enjoy spending hours playing
trains and watching the real thing. Darren isn't much of a traveler, but we do go places on occasion. Some day we both plan on making a trip on
Amtrak, Darren is just a tad too young yet to travel overnight without his mom. He's so cute because he realizes it. On a trip to Duluth one day with
just me and him, he was missing his mom and said while sniffling, "Yup. I knew it." I asked what he knew, and he replied, "I knew it. I should have
stayed home." After a few miles, he was happy again and we spent the entire afternoon chasing trains on the Iron Range. It is nice to have a kid to
play with and love, but yet be able to turn him back over to mom when the day gets too long (which isn't very often). I've never seen a child play so
delicately and careful with the fragile trains like he has. He can put an entire train on the tracks with no wheels off than I can.
| I took the following text from a 911 Group I am a member of. It may not be hard for you to read, but when I read it I sometimes get choked up. Every one of these items listed, I can say I've experienced them... often times not ending the way we would like... Who am I? I am the voice that calms the mother into breathing life back into her infant son. I am the invisible hand that holds and comforts the elderly man who woke up this morning to find his wife of 50 years had passed away during the night. I am the friend who talks the disgruntled teenager out of ending their own life. I sent help when you had your first automobile accident. I am the one that tries to obtain the information from callers to ensure that the scene is safe for those I dispatch to emergencies. All the while anticipating the worst, hoping for the best. I am the psychologist who readily adapts my language and tone of voice to serve the needs of my callers with compassion and understanding. I am the ears that listen to the needs of all those I serve. I have heard the screams of faceless people I will never meet nor never forget! I have cried at the atrocities of mankind and rejoiced at the miracles of life. I was there, though unseen by my comrades in the field, during the most trying emergencies. I have tried to visualize the scene to coincide with the voice I heard I am usually not privy to the outcome of a call, and so I wonder...... I am the one who works weekends, strange shifts and holidays. Children do not say they want my job when they grow up. Yet I am in this vocation by choice. Those I help do not call back to say thank you. Still, there is comfort in the challenge,integrity, and purpose of my employment. I am thankful to provide such a meaningful service. I am a mother,father,sister, brother, son or daughter. I am where you need me and still here when you don't My office is never empty, and the work here is never done. I am always on call. The training is strenuous, demanding and endless. No two days at work are ever the same. Who am I? I am an emergency dispatcher, and I am PROUD! |
| My nephew Darren riding his bike through Farden Park near Cass Lake on a chilly October afternoon... it snowed the next day. |
| My nephew again, after catching a Northern Pike on Pike Bay at Cass Lake. We both enjoy fishing, and love spending time on the water. |
| I know it isn't a trophy fish by any stretch of the imagination, but it is my personal best. The big ones just seem to avoid me. |
Like I said before, I've been shooting trains for years. In about 2003 I really started getting into photography more as I wanted to capture some
photos of the DMIR before they were no more. Even back then I look back on the equipment I was using, and wish I only had what I have now back
then. I was using a low grade camera with 35mm film. I also shot some old VHS video that was all lost in 2004. I first started digital photography
way back in high school, some 10 years ago now. With a 1.4 megapixel camera I was happy to have instant access to the photograph I just
captured. As the years went on I moved up in quality of equipment. I made the big step to 3.2 megapixels in 2003 with my first camera, a Sony
Mavica mini disc still camera. The biggest attraction was, it shot video too! I almost laugh looking back at how excited I was to have that
equipment, but hey... we all progress in our interests right? After that camera I made the move to 5 megapixels with a Kodak point and shoot super
zoom camera. Going from a 3x optical zoom to a 10x was a real treat. I no longer had to get right next to the train for a shot, I could simply zoom
on in. In 2005 with a couple extra dollars in my pocket, I made a large investment in a new camera. I ended up buying a Canon 350D with a
300mm lens. Having my first DLSR was a dream come true. The quality these cameras have is phenomenal. As time went on I also bought a
Toshiba digital video camera to capture my railroading activities on video. As I got more serious with photography, and as technology improved I
also made improvements to my equipment.
photos of the DMIR before they were no more. Even back then I look back on the equipment I was using, and wish I only had what I have now back
then. I was using a low grade camera with 35mm film. I also shot some old VHS video that was all lost in 2004. I first started digital photography
way back in high school, some 10 years ago now. With a 1.4 megapixel camera I was happy to have instant access to the photograph I just
captured. As the years went on I moved up in quality of equipment. I made the big step to 3.2 megapixels in 2003 with my first camera, a Sony
Mavica mini disc still camera. The biggest attraction was, it shot video too! I almost laugh looking back at how excited I was to have that
equipment, but hey... we all progress in our interests right? After that camera I made the move to 5 megapixels with a Kodak point and shoot super
zoom camera. Going from a 3x optical zoom to a 10x was a real treat. I no longer had to get right next to the train for a shot, I could simply zoom
on in. In 2005 with a couple extra dollars in my pocket, I made a large investment in a new camera. I ended up buying a Canon 350D with a
300mm lens. Having my first DLSR was a dream come true. The quality these cameras have is phenomenal. As time went on I also bought a
Toshiba digital video camera to capture my railroading activities on video. As I got more serious with photography, and as technology improved I
also made improvements to my equipment.
My equipment... camera equipment that is.
Current equipment roster:
Canon EOS 50D
Canon EOS 350D
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens
Canon f/4L 70-200mm USM
Canon f/4L 98-280mm USM
Canon EFS f/3.5 18-55mm
Canon f/4.5 EF 70-300mm
Panasonic HDC-SD9 Full High Definition Video Camcorder
Vehicles: Chevy Imapala and Dodge Ram
Canon EOS 50D
Canon EOS 350D
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens
Canon f/4L 70-200mm USM
Canon f/4L 98-280mm USM
Canon EFS f/3.5 18-55mm
Canon f/4.5 EF 70-300mm
Panasonic HDC-SD9 Full High Definition Video Camcorder
Vehicles: Chevy Imapala and Dodge Ram
| Photo courtesy, John Fladung. |
My Nephew Darren
