Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

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Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad
Soo Line logo.svg
Soo Line postcard ad for passenger service circa 1910s.JPG
A postcard advertisement for the railroad's service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Duluth/Superior, circa 1910
Overview
Parent company Canadian Pacific Railway
Headquarters Minneapolis, Minnesota
Reporting mark SOO
Locale North Dakota to Chicago
Dates of operation18831961
Successor Soo Line Railroad
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (MStP&SSM) ( reporting mark SOO) was a Class I railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Midwestern United States. Commonly known since its opening in 1884 as the Soo Line [1] after the phonetic spelling of Sault, it was merged with several other major CP subsidiaries on January 1, 1961, to form the Soo Line Railroad.

Contents

Passenger service

A well-used Soo Line ore car, built in 1916. Hauling iron ore was an important part of the Soo Line's business. Soo Line - 80944 ore car.jpg
A well-used Soo Line ore car, built in 1916. Hauling iron ore was an important part of the Soo Line's business.

The Soo Line was never a major carrier of passenger traffic since its route between Chicago and Minneapolis was much longer than the competing Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road), Chicago and North Western Railway, and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (Burlington Route) routes. [2] It also had no direct access to Milwaukee.

The primary trains operated by the Soo Line were:

Additionally, local trains served Chicago to Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth–Superior to Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth to Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and some summer-only services which relieved The Mountaineer of the local work along its route.

Presidents

The Presidents of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad were: [5]

Timeline

The Soo Line Building in Minneapolis served as company headquarters. Soo Line Building Minneapolis.jpg
The Soo Line Building in Minneapolis served as company headquarters.

Locomotives

Preservation

Soo Line 1003, a 2-8-2, in Slinger, Wisconsin, on November 2, 2019. SOO 1003 in Slinger.jpg
Soo Line 1003, a 2-8-2, in Slinger, Wisconsin, on November 2, 2019.

A number of the railroad's rolling stock have been preserved in museums across the United States, some in operational condition. This list includes some of the more notable equipment.

Steam locomotives

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Central Railway (1897–1954)</span> Defunct American railway (1897–1961)

The Wisconsin Central Railway Company was created in 1897 when the Wisconsin Central Railroad (1871–99) was reorganized from bankruptcy. In 1954, it reverted to the name Wisconsin Central Railroad Company. The railroad was merged into the Soo Line Railroad in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line Railroad</span> American class I railroad

The Soo Line Railroad is one of the primary United States railroad subsidiaries for the CPKC Railway, one of six U.S. Class I railroads, controlled through the Soo Line Corporation. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (MStP&SSM), which was commonly known as the Soo Line after the phonetic spelling of Sault, it was formed in 1961 by the consolidation of that company with two other CPKC subsidiaries: The Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway, and the Wisconsin Central Railway. It is also the successor to other Class I railroads, including the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. On the other hand, a large amount of mileage was spun off in 1987 to Wisconsin Central Ltd., now part of the Canadian National Railway. The Soo Line Railroad and the Delaware and Hudson Railway, CPKC's other major subsidiary, presently do business as the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). Most equipment has been repainted into the CP scheme, but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board groups all of the company's U.S. subsidiaries under the Soo Line name for reporting purposes. The Minneapolis headquarters are in the Canadian Pacific Plaza building, having moved from the nearby Soo Line Building.

Soo Line may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line 1003</span> Preserved American 2-8-2 locomotive

Soo Line 1003 is a class "L-1" 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in March 1913 as a member of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad L-1 class. It was retired from regular revenue service in August 1959 and restored to operating condition on October 27, 1996. Today, it is occasionally operated on the major railroads of the American Upper Midwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line 2719</span> Preserved American 4-6-2 locomotive

Soo Line 2719 is a 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for use on passenger trains operated by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway. No. 2719 was used to haul the Soo Line's last steam-powered train, a June 21, 1959 round-trip excursion between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Ladysmith, Wisconsin. It was then displayed in Eau Claire, Wisconsin until 1996. It was restored and operated in excursion service from 1998 until 2013 when its boiler certificate expired. Today, the locomotive remains on static display in Duluth, Minnesota.

The Lake States Transportation Division (LSTD) was a wholly owned division of the Soo Line Railroad that existed from 1986 until 1987. The bankruptcy of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad saw Soo Line acquire its routes to add trackage between Chicago and the Twin Cities in 1985. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) mandated that Soo Line must divest of some lines in the interest of preserving competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane International Railroad</span> Defunct American short line railroad

The Spokane International Railroad was a short line railroad between Spokane, Washington, and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) at Kingsgate, British Columbia. The line became an important one for the CP with its connections to the Union Pacific Railroad and Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Northern Railroad</span>

The Wisconsin Northern Railroad is the trade name employed by Progressive Rail to operate 62.3 miles (100.3 km) of railroad in northern Wisconsin and began operations on November 29, 2004.

The Fairmount and Veblen Railway (F&V) was a short line railroad that operated in Richland County, North Dakota; and in Roberts and Marshall counties, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line 2718</span> Preserved American 4-6-2 locomotive

Soo Line 2718 is a H-23 class 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive that was originally owned by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway, but operated by their subsidiary, the Wisconsin Central Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line High Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Soo Line High Bridge, also known as the Arcola High Bridge, is a steel deck arch bridge over the St. Croix River between Stillwater, Minnesota and Somerset, Wisconsin, United States. It was designed by structural engineer C.A.P. Turner and built by the American Bridge Company from 1910 to 1911. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 for its national significance in the themes of engineering and transportation. It was nominated for its exceptional dimensions, beauty, innovative engineering techniques, and importance to transportation between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crosby station (Minnesota)</span>

Crosby station is a historic former train station in Crosby, Minnesota, United States. It was established in 1910. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as the Crosby Railroad Depot for having local significance in the themes of commerce, industry, and transportation. The depot was nominated for being an essential conduit for the arrival of goods and people and the export of iron ore during central Crow Wing County's economic boom years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line locomotives</span>

Included in this list of Soo Line locomotives are those of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, as well as those of the Wisconsin Central Railway, which it inherited on its lease in 1909. The M.St.P.&S.Ste.M. finally merged the WC and the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway on December 30, 1961 to form the Soo Line Railroad. The Soo Line later acquired the Milwaukee Road and became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line L-1 class</span>

The Soo Line L-1 class was a class of ten 2-8-2 (Mikado) steam locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company in 1913 for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway.

Soo Line 353 is a restored 0-6-0 type steam locomotive of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway B-4 class. It is now owned & operated by WMSTR every Labor Day weekend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soo Line B-4 class</span>

The Soo Line B-4 class were 0-6-0 steam locomotives constructed for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway by the American Locomotive Company. Six (#344–349) were built at their Schenectady plant in 1915, with a further five (#350–354) being constructed by their Brooks plant in Dunkirk, New York, in 1920.

The Minnesota Transfer Railway was a short line railroad in the United States. It was incorporated on March 22, 1883.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thief River Falls station</span>

Thief River Falls station is a historic train station in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The station was built in 1913 to replace an earlier station and saw passenger traffic until 1967. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Depot and now serves as the Thief River Falls city hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moose Jaw station (Canadian Pacific Railway)</span> Railway station in Saskatchewan, Canada

Moose Jaw station is a former railway station in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was designed by Hugh G. Jones and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1920 to 1922. The station comprises a two-story waiting area, four storey office block and six-storey Tyndall stone clock tower. The building was designated a historic railway station in 1991.

The Rice Lake, Dallas and Menomonie Railway (RLD&M) was a railroad company based in Wisconsin, United States. It was known locally as "the Blueberry Line" due to the abundance of blueberry vines along its route.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Opening of the "Soo"". Eau Claire News. Eau Claire, WI. November 15, 1884. p. 4 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. Glischinski, Steve; Ingles, J. David (June 1, 2023). "Soo Line history remembered". Classic Trains News. Kalmbach Media . Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Abbey 1984, p. 99.
  4. 1 2 Abbey 1984, p. 97.
  5. Gjevre 1990, p. 203–207.
  6. "Commendation and Wet Blankets". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. August 19, 1883. p. 4 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. "A New Railroad in Northern Wisconsin". Chicago Tribune. August 17, 1883. p. 6 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. "New Railway Enterprises". Chicago Tribune. October 2, 1883. p. 3 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. "The Northern Pacific's Eastern Extension". Chicago Tribune. February 24, 1884. p. 6 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. "Minnesota News". The Northern Pacific Farmer. Wadena, MN. March 6, 1884. p. 2 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. "(untitled)". Eau Claire Leader. March 5, 1884. p. 4 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. "The Sault Ste. Marie Road". Chicago Tribune. March 11, 1884. p. 7 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. "A Minneapolis Road - The First Trip Over the Minneapolis and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. November 8, 1884. p. 4 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. "Railway Intelligence - Sault Ste Marie". The Gazette. Montreal, Canada. November 13, 1884. p. 1 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. Gjevre 1990, p. 19.
  16. Lennon, J. Establishing Trails on Rights-of-Way. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Interior. p. 49.
  17. Gilchinski, Steve (February 1997). pp. 24–25

Bibliography