Any recommendations on resources for finding operational or historical data on BN operations throughout Minnesota in this time period? Thanks!
Yup!
I just joined FOBR (friends of the Burlington Northern). They’ve got a CD you can buy with a whole bunch of back issues–LOTS of assorted info, some no doubt useful to you. There’s also “regular” back issues. You can also look through the various BN Annuals of the period. Also, you might join the BN Yahoo group.
Ed
As referenced by 7j43k / Ed above, see the Burlington Northern Motive Power Annuals by F. Hol Wagner, pubished by Motive Power Services, Denver, Colorado for various years during this time period - most if not all are listed here:
http://www.gngoat.org/books5.htm
I have most - but not all of them, and I believe one in particular has a section on the Minnesota iron ore operations. Give me a couple days to get back home and pull that them out and I’ll let you know if my memory on that is good or not.
- Paul North.
Thanks for the great info…I really appreciate the potentially great resources.!!!
The 1974-75 BN MOTIVE POWER ANNUAL has an article titled “Iron Ore: Heavy Tonnage for BN” on pp. 34 - 53, which is heavy on the Minnesota operations. Some of the other issues have articles that incidentally mention or include Minnesota - such as one on the coal movements. - Paul North.
Depends a little on what particularly you’re looking at. BN did operate former GN and NP ore operations in Minnesota (including the old NP - Soo Line joint operation on the Cuyuna Range) as others have mentioned but also operated heavy mainline trains from Seattle / Portland thru the Twin Cities to Chicago. There were also industrial switching areas in the Twin Cities, and the old NP Northtown yard was one of BN’s main yard facilities on the entire RR.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder used BN trackage west of the Twin Cities, and I believe the Twin Cities - Duluth/Superior “Northstar” ran on BN trackage too…can’t remember right now if it used the old GN or old NP line, but I presume the GN one. The NP “Skally Line” between M/StP and D/S was eventually closed by BN in favor of the GN line.
The BN was everywhere in the Northern half of Minnesota! BN consolidated major yard operations at Northtown Yard(rebuilt ex-NP yard north of Mpls). The ‘Preferred Route’ west of the Twin Cities became the ex-NP mainline to Fargo, via Staples. The ex-GN line to Duluth/Superior became the route to the head of the lakes. Amtrak’s Northstar/Arrowhead trains ran via this ex GN line. The NP route is pretty much gone now. The ex-GN mainline west usually handles coal trains from the west, and routes genneral merchadise via Wilmar to the SW. There are 2 routes out of Duluth/Superior to the west. The ex-NP route handles some coal trains via Staples. The ex-GN line handles ore trains off of the ‘range’ and traffic from the west via Grand Forks.
Jim