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BEMIDJI — The Beltrami County Historical Society, in partnership with the Northern Iron Horse Railroad Society, will host a Train Days event on April 12-13, at the History Center, 130 Minnesota Ave. SW.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 13.

Attendees can view model railroads in multiple scales, including an expansive LEGO city and railroad displays. The Historical Society will also offer tours of the X259 caboose, a 1948 Great Northern Railway relic that gives visitors a glimpse into the golden age of American rail travel, a release said.

Originally built as a steel, 30-foot caboose, it was an essential part of railroad operations, allowing crew members to monitor trains from an elevated vantage point. Thanks to careful preservation, visitors will have the rare opportunity to step aboard and experience the sights and sounds of a bygone era, the release explained.

Attendees will also enjoy various activities, including railroading model train vendors, unique souvenirs, live story times and music.

"Model railroading and railroading stays with you — it just grows over time," Northern Iron Horse Railroad Society President Chris Muller said in the release. "We enjoy sharing our passion with visitors and helping them connect with the rich railroad history of this area."

Founded in 1985, the Northern Iron Horse Railroad Society has long been a gathering place for train enthusiasts. The club, which meets in the basement of the Beltrami County History Center, has evolved over the decades from informal gatherings in coffee shops to constructing a permanent model railroad layout.

"We are excited to share this piece of history with the community," Emily Thabes, executive director of the Historical Society, said in the release. "The caboose is one more rail in the long track of history that connects Bemidji to the Great Northern Railroad."

Admission for Train Days costs $7 for adults, $5 for veterans, senior citizens, and tribal members, and $3 for students in kindergarten through college. BCHS members and SNAP recipients receive free admission.

For event details and updates, visit or contact the Beltrami County Historical Society at depot@beltramihistory.org or (218) 444-3376.