Hello all. Has anyone modeled or know of track plans to model the Minnesota Transfer Rail system or MidwayYards that operated in St Paul? Thank you for any information.
It looks like it’s called the Minnesota Commercial Railway now.
I just Googled Minnesota Transfer Railway, and found lots of info. Check it out.
Mike.
Found this - HO scale
http://www.macrodyn.com/ldsig/wiki/index.php?title=Minnesota_Transfer_Railway_-_HO_-_Stein_Rypern
Yes it’s been Minnesota Commercial for quite a while now. Noted for still using quite a few Alco diesels. Either Atlas or Bowser recently announced a run of Minnesota Commercial diesels…I think it was Bowser, the old CP M-636s? They still operate a roundhouse and small turntable. The big six-axle Alcos JUST fit on it!
There are a couple of DVDs available on MN Commercial.
http://www.trainvideodepot.com/DVD-Minnesotas-Railroads-Vol.-6--Minnesota-Commercial-Railway_MR6DVD
https://www.amazon.com/ALCOs-The-Minnesota-Commercial-Railway/dp/B01GUP6LGA
Interesting seeing the old reference to Stein. He used to post regularly before he passed away. He was Norwegian, but his wife was from here in the Twin Cities. Always regret not getting to meet him while he was here visiting her family.
There’s an earlier thread here, with Stein in it:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/157484.aspx
I believe Dave Zuhn was modeling the St. Paul Bridge & Terminal, a similar railroad:
I surely wish I could help you, If I could I would. I live 20 minutes from the yard you speak of. I drive by it 15 to 20 times a summer. On Highway 61 coming off old Shepard Road off the Riverbanks of the Mississippi south side of Saint Paul. It stretches down Highway 61 for what seems to be two or three miles. Probably closer to two. We ride together Harleys and classic cars to Prescott Wisconsin that borders Minnesota. On arrival we sit on a two-story deck over looking the st. Croix River. We watch boats, we watch trains. Every 15 to 20 minutes a train goes one way a train goes the other way across the lift bridge. Car carriers and double stackers. Busy busy busy
Internet sources say it’s 5.1 miles. Here is an image of part of it. Just to say in a friendly way I hope you have a big house a lot of track and a Long Reach.
In “Trains” October 1986 there is a track plan for the entire twin cities area. It is part of an article written by Steven Glischinski.
Sheppard Road becomes Warner Road east of St.Paul Union Depot. What you’re referring to is actually two yards, BNSF and CP now, originally CB&Q and Milwaukee. The CP yard is generally called “Pig’s Eye Yard” because it’s near Pig’s Eye Lake. I think the other is just “St.Paul Yard”??
Anyway, neither one is BNSF’s Midway Yard. Midway is “mid-way” between downtown Minneapolis to the west and downtown St.Paul to the east. General area of where the Amtrak depot was.
BTW if anyone’s ever been to “Choo Choo Bob’s” hobby shop at Cleveland and Marshall in St.Paul, if you go north a mile or so on Cleveland, it goes right by MN Commercial Ry’s roundhouse.
Stix. My bad Thanks for the correction. [:)]