From the Stillwater Gazette newspaper. Funding not yet secured to buy the land the line is on. So it sounds like it will run through 2008. They are still working on a purchase by one government entity for a soon later purchase by the state for another trail. This purchase would link up a current trail with one planned whenever a new St.Croix river bridge is built (don’t hold your breath for that one).
The trail would connect the current trail at Duluth Junction which was where the Northern Pacific and Soo Line (Wisconsin Central) crossed. I hope that the railroad continues to run on this track because there are enough bike trails around. Hopefully I will get a chance to go on this before and if it closes. I have looked at that track and its a good thing that the Zephyr goes slow. The line from White Bear to Stillwater was completed in the 1870’s, probably rebuilt since then, but not in the last couple of decades at least. The ballast is a small sized yellowish tan colored rock and many if not most of the ties are rotting. I tried to see how old the rail was, but could not make out any dates.
One rail behind my house said 1912. They finally had some work done on the track in the last two years. They tend to do things in the last minute. I bought their old F350 they had for spraying the weeds on the track. Vandals had set it on fire in summer 3-4 years ago. They had lost the title and it took them forever to get around to applying for a new title. What a PITA that was.
To get the Minnesota Zephyr’s locomotives and rolling stock off the property, I think they’d have to re-open at least one grade-crossing in downtown Stillwater to reach the UP’s (or MNNR’s?) tracks. I’m almost certain at least one of the street crossings has been paved-over. Is that correct?
They pulled up all the tracks at least 2 blocks from the nearest crossing and close up to the depot building. I think there are 3 crossings in town and one at Sunnyside Marina. All are paved over. And the track between those crossings is pulled up also. The track going south of downtown has 12 year old trees growing up through it down by Sunnyside Marina. One place just south of downtown there is a washout about 8 or so feet across. Even with that filled in I’m not sure if that track would be safe to take a train on. With the St. Croix bridge project that continues into infinity but seems like it will never happen, the city of Stillwater badly wanted the tracks gone as it would be one less hurdle to a new bridge. I was told by one of the Zephyr staff that the city forced abandonment of that track as it had not been used since 95 when a steam engine ran on it last. But don’t quote me on that last sentence. I by the way did see the steam engine leave town on that track in 95. BNSF owned that track down to somewhere near Sunnyside. If your not familiar, Sunnyside Marina is just to the north of where 36 stops curving north and straightens out into 95. Another railfan in town told me the only way that train gets out of town is by semi truck. The entire operation was for sale well before the idea of selling the line to the state for a trail came into the news. If I had the millions to buy it I would and keep it as a tourist line. It would be fun to rebuild the line to the west and extend the line. I live right here in town so if you got a few more questions I might be able to answer.
Another article in wednesdays Stillwater Gazette. Two parties interested in leasing the line as it is right now. The whole thing might be sold to someone and continue on for 5 years or more as a tourist train. Having dealt with them and knowing someone who worked there for a while the management could be much better.
Just came across this… the trainset is forsale for $1,250,000
Who runs the line that stops just south of Hugo. I can’t remember if it paralells 61 or another railroad. The newest detailed maps show that line as a trail but I saw RR cars on it just a month ago.
I think that line is Minnesota Commercial property. I followed it for a while last summer. I believe that it was formerly a Northern Pacific branch to Duluth, but that’s way before my time so I could be wrong. The line was pretty much gone by Hugo, but there were several industries south of Hugo that were getting rail traffic, and it even looked like one or two of them had invested in their rail facilities, judging by the new appearance of their loadout docks.