Does anybody know why the SOO, and then the CP, didn’t sell-off the remainder of the SOO main east of New Brighton, MN to WC? I’ve never seen any SOO/CP trains operating between Cardigan Jct. & St. Paul (but I assume that line is used - maybe for the WC/CN to reach Pigs Eye Yard?). The only CP trains I’ve seen operating over the SOO main east of New Brighton have been MOW jobs. I’m fairly certain there are no industries being served by the CP from New Brighton to where CN ownership takes-over east of White Bear Lake. A CP MOW crew was out working on the switch for the passing siding at Lexington Ave. this morning and it brought the question to mind.
The line is served by a weekday local based out of St. Paul Yd. There are two customers east of Cardigan Jct. towards Withrow (though only 1 gets steady cars). Also there are customers between Lexington Ave. and Snelling Ave. on the north side. Plus Soo wanted to control WC’s access to Twin Cities customers. Typical power for the local is either a GP38-2 or a MP15AC. CN interchange with the CP is at Humboldt Yd. on the north side of Minneapolis.
Soo sold the trackage between Withrow and Dresser to WC, but kept Trackage Rights to access the Trap Rock plant at Dresser. Since the sale Soo runs more trains in one year over the line than CN and WC have since they purchased it.