A dormant line comes back to life..

From the newspaper of the Saintly City…I belive Progressive rail is running on the old Northfield to Cannon Falls UP branch.

Cannon Falls / Rail crossing use may delay trafficPioneer Press

Updated: 11/01/2009 10:54:07 PM CST

Motorists may encounter delays on U.S. 52 and Minnesota 20 near Cannon Falls as early as today as two railroad crossings begin seeing train traffic again, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.

The railroad crossings have not been used in about five years. Up to two trains a day now will use the crossings as they make their way to and from Cannon Falls.

New warning devices, which include gates and flashing lights, will be installed to warn motorists of trains. However, until the installation has been completed, the railroad crossings will be monitored by train crews who will flag trains across the highways. Message signs also will be in place for about the first 30 days of operation to give motorists advance warning of potential train traffic.

The trains will run between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

— Nick Ferraro

Do you know what is source of the new traffic that is causing this line is coming back to life?

According to the Cannon Falls Beacon, Progressive Rail bought the property of the bankrupt Minnesota Malting Co and they are turning it into a bulk transload facility.