Click the text above to visit the YahooGroup OutstateMinnesotaRail.  A group of active photographers, historians, and railfans from
across the area engaging in discussion of railroad operations in "Outstate Minnesota".  The geographic definition of OMR varies and
morphs to meet the needs and desires of those taking part in the conversation.  Typically the guidelines include anything north and west
of the Twin Cities Metro.  We frequently cover areas from as far north as the CN Sprague Sub, as far south as the Marshall Sub in
extreme SW Minnesota and everything in between.  Occasional drifting to other areas of Minnesota is permitted, but this is the main focus
area for the list.  If you aren't a member yet, come on over and sign up.  There's always great conversation and you might even get the
heads up with some good action before others.  Tentative date for 2012 is 6-23-2012, but is subject to change.
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www.christophersmuller.com
VerndaleRail... the annual Great OutstateMinnesotaRail get-together!
VR2K11!
The third annual VerndaleRail was held on
June 25th, 2011 and the weather couldn't
have been better!  Nearly 20 members
enjoyed the day trackside taking in the
parade of eastbound trains the Staples Sub
had to offer.  Unfortunately severe flooding
in North Dakota had drastically impacted
railroad operations on the BNSF.  Not a
single westbound train passed through
during our gathering.  That had a hamper
on the photography, but the fun continued
regardless of train traffic.  Over 40 burgers
were consumed, 20 hot dogs, two cans of
beans, six bags of chips, 100 cans of soda,
48 bottles of water, 24 pink snowballs, and
many other snacks.  Note for next year,
don't leave the grill unattended for the
burgers cook fast when z-trains are rolling
by in the background.  Thanks to everyone
who made the trek to Verndale!
Photo by Jim Ramnes.
Photo by Kevin Madsen.
VR2K10!
For the second year in a row, OMRers cast
a thick layer of foam on the small town of
Verndale for the annual OMR gathering.  
After being eyed up and down by the cop
last year, he joined us in the park to check
out the festivities.  By the end of the evening
I think he caught the highly contagious
railfan bug.  After that we adopted the motto
"The cop is our friend, lets keep it that way."  
There were plenty of trains to keep us busy
through the afternoon.  With good food,
good company, and good trains the day can
be chalked up as another great success.  
The day nearly didn't happen due to the
devastating tornadoes that raked across
central Minnesota just a few days prior.  The
generous members of OMR "passed the
hat" and collected $112 which was donated
to the Wadena Tornado Recovery.
VR2K09!
After years of talking about it, we finally did
it.  There was always talk about getting
together and spending a day trackside with
friends.  Jim contacted some folks in
Verndale and we had a place.  Next up was
to pack up the grill and entertainment
between trains, which included videos, slide
shows, and monitoring ATCS.  We enjoyed
burgers and dogs off the grill, as well as
enough beans to feed an army.  As Mike
Vandenberg (pictured on the right) said, it
was like another good friend was with us as
a favorite dispatcher SWA was working the
Staples Desk today.  We were impressed
with the turn out for the first ever event, and
all decided it was a must to do future
gatherings.  No one could have summed the
day up better than Mike, "...found
appreciation for the hobby and all those
people that call themselves railfans.
You might be an OMR fan if...
...if you want to clear a track warrant every time you drive
east through Wadena.
Originally posted by Jim Ramnes as a comical list mocking the "you might be a redneck..."  
but from the perspective of an OMR member.  Others have expanded the list with their own
little memories or experiences from the OMR list.
You might be an OMR fan...
You might be an OMR fan...
...if based on the lead unit number you predict the axle
count before the detector, and then find out you are right!
...if you have Julie programmed into your cell phone.
...when calling the above, you are already ready to say
"yes" to the question, "I think you said eight, is that right?"
...if K-Line means more to you than the O-Gauge toy trains.
...if you know what it means to be Mullered.
...when the highlight of any trip is getting a shot off the old
Soo Line overpass near Gregory.
...if you actually know where or what a Gregory is.
... when you hear NPR and your first thought is not
National Public Radio.
...if you've spent too much time at these locations: Staples,
Glenwood, Detroit Lakes, Hawley, the Lake Park Lagoons,
Frazee, Nashua, Willmar, Dent, and/or Verges.
...if you say "Late Builder" and a lazy carpenter never
crossed your mind.
...if you know every restaurant, motel, shopping center that
has the tracks in sight.
...when traveling between the cities and Fargo you prefer
to take highway 10 instead of I94.
...if you already have an excuse to take highway 55
instead of I94 from the Glenwood area.
...you make an extra effort to take highway 12 from Nashua.
...if 46.899, -96.210666 means something to you.
...if you got engaged at the above point.
...if someone offers you a candy apple, and you are
disappointed it isn't the SOO 6061, but just an apple on
stick.
...if you check the Staples or Paynesville Sub ATCS more
often than you check your facebook.
...if your first thought of a blizzard warning is where you are
going to get drift busting shots the next day.
...if you see a vehicle stopped near a crossing in "your"
home territory, you want to investigate it to see if someone
is railfanning.
...when the dispatcher tells an afternoon eastbound you'll
be meeting three at Lincoln, you crack a big smile.
...the OMR Coal Spotting Guide is one of your favorite
pieces of literature.
...if there is more than one vehicle traveling between
Alexandria to Parkers Prairie you think radio blocking
would be a good idea.
...if you know radio blocking in cars doesn't work,
especially in the CTC territory near Perham.
...if you have ever mentioned Dower Lake in police
company.
...when your significant thinks nothing of a u-turns based
on a static filled snippet you hear over the scanner.
...when you actually know where Verndale is.
...when you drive 350 miles to get to Verndale.
...if you know what time the sirens goes off in Verndale.
...if you are actually excited to go to Verndale.
...when a three-way in Murray excites you, but not for the
reason anyone else would think.
...when you know exactly where you have to be on 200+
miles of track based on sun angle and train direction.
...when you know where to find Dale, Richdale, Forada,
Philbrook, Manitoba Junction, and a number of other
remote place.
...if you have a photo from ESS Henning.
...or WSS Henning.
...whenever you hear the phrase "Double Cros" your mind
adds, "...over MP 66" to it without any conscious thought
on your part.
...if your idea of a day well pent involved S-curves at
Frazee and Lake Park, with a side trip to Callaway.
...if you have worn out every photography angle in Staples.
...if you know where the Browns Valley Sub is.
...if you've seen a train on the Browns Valley Sub.
...if you know what every elevator in the state uses for local
power, and your favorites are Litchfield and Herman.
...if you know what a Sno-Flyer is.
...when traveling on highway 59 you say east or westbound.
...when you actually like it when Amtrak is running late.
...if you wish you attended Moorhead High School, not to
be a spud, but the view of the tracks!
...when no further explanation is needed  when you hear,
"its the yellow one!"
...if you know someone crazy (or is it skilled?) enough to
model T-Scale.
...if you know what towns used to have Hobby Stores.
...if you aren't Native American but have Indians names like
"One Who Shoots Into the Sun" or "One Adds a Sweater
When Below Zero".
...if you have a mental image of the photo this quote is on,
"Yeah, here comes Boss Hogg packin' a Pentax".
...if you miss KAW on the Staples Sub.
...if you think of SWA as an old friend.
...if your first priority when making travel plans is proximity
to railroads.
...if you cary a BNSF Staples Sub, Brainerd, Grand Forks,
or Noyes Sub or CP Elbow Lake or Detroit Lakes Sub
timetable with you at all times.
...if you don't need to carry these timetables because you
have them memorized!
...if you know why there was a MN in front of "MN Chris" in
the mid to late 2000's.
...if you are the suspect in a rummage sale sign theft ring.
...if you know how to use the self-timer on a Canon 50D.
...if you know Mrs. L4T is a real person.
...if you DAB sends chills down your back.
...when you see a flashing white light on the stoplights you
hope a train is coming and not an ambulance.
...if you've driven through the backwoods of Verges on a
snowmobiles trail... in and SUV... in June.