North Shore Scenic Railroad

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A long and colorful train in Two Harbors awaiting the return of Soo Line 2719
The route of the North Shore Scenic Railroad between Duluth and Two Harbors

The North Shore Scenic Railroad (reporting mark NSSR) is a heritage railroad that operates between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota, United States, along 28 miles (45 km) of the historical Lakefront Line, once part of the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad. The NSSR operates out of the St. Louis County Historic Union Depot, also known as the Duluth Union Depot offering daily excursions on historic trains from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Throughout the rest of the year, it operates special excursions for holidays such as the Great Pumpkin Train for Halloween and the Christmas City Express around the holidays. The railroad is owned by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (LSRM), operating and restoring the collection. It is a popular attraction in the Duluth area nearby the popular Canal Park area.

Operating schedules[]

From May until December, the NSSR operates several daily excursions; following Labor Day, the NSSR reduces service to weekends only. Due to the popularity of the train rides, it is not always possible to buy tickets at the window, so the NSSR has implemented online reservations.

The NSSR's premiere excursion is the Duluth Zephyr, offered multiple times a day during its primary operating season. This 75-minute train ride takes visitors into vintage train cars pulled by a vintage diesel engine through Duluth to the Lester River at the north end of the city. Passengers witness a turnaround where the engine will uncouple and move to the back of the train to pull it back into the station. Passengers have the opportunity to ride coach or first class with options for snacks and drinks during their trip.

During the summer, the Music & Pizza train and Elegant Dinner excursion offer an evening experience for passengers interested in a longer ride. These 2.5-hour excursions from Duluth to Knife River give passengers an opportunity to eat dinner (either pizza or a more upscale dining experience in the first class diner car) and listen to live music from local musicians playing in the baggage car.

From July through September, the NSSR operates an excursion called the Two Harbors Turn (becoming the Fall Colors Train to Two Harbors from mid-September to early October) which is a six-hour excursion which takes passengers to Two Harbors where they can de-board at the historic Two Harbors Depot and explore the town before getting back on the train for a ride back to Duluth.

Special event trains[]

Soo Line 2500 leads a streamliner special in Duluth, July 12, 2014

LSRM and NSSR operate several trains for special events, such as Grandma's Marathon and will accept charters for private excursions. Since 2012 the North Shore Scenic Railroad has hosted "Day out with Thomas", an excursion featuring a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine, on certain July and August weekends. Other special trains have varied from year to year, often including a murder mystery train, a summer BBQ train, and holiday trains in the fall and winter.

The Great Pumpkin Train travels from the Duluth Depot to a pumpkin patch set up for train passengers. Each ticketed passenger is able to pick out a pumpkin and ride the train back to the depot. In conjunction with the train excursion, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum hosts a Halloween themed event in the museum.

During the holidays, the Christmas City Express provides a storybook presentation based on the local book of the same name and service to Bentleyville.

A new offering in 2019 is the option to rent a caboose which can accommodate up to 10 passengers. The caboose trip is a private experience with a personal guide and snacks which is attached to the Duluth Zephyr excursion on select weekends in the summer and by reservation at least one week in advance.

Every year (typically mid-September[citation needed]), LSRM hosts a "Railfan Weekend," during which, most operable equipment is operated for tourists and railfans. This activity also includes photo charters of historic freight equipment, and some equipment is temporarily repainted with DM&IR lettering in honor of the rail line's former owner.

On occasion, the NSSR will run a special Streamliner,[1] featuring Soo Line 2500 and Erie Mining Company 4211 pulling the finest passenger cars of the LSRM's & NSSR's collection.

History and the NSSR[]

The North Shore Scenic Railroad operates excursions along the historic Lakefront Line, a 26-mile (42 km) section of rail between Duluth and Two Harbors. This rail corridor served a vital link in the transportation system for over 100 years. Known originally as the Lake Division, it connected the isolated Duluth and Iron Range Railway with America’s expanding rail network. In 1886, when the Lakefront Line was first built, it was joined by a one-mile (1.6 km) extension of the St. Paul and Duluth Railway at Fifth Avenue East in Duluth, providing the D&IR with access to downtown Duluth as well as to other railroad carriers at the Head of the Lakes.

The scenic railroad began operating in 1990, by Donald Shank, former General Manager and Vice President of the Duluth, Mesabi & Iron Range Railway, began the North Shore Scenic Railroad. He operated the railroad for one season, using both county and private funding. In 1991, the Goldfines, a local family, took over operation of the railroad. The operated as a for-profit entity, using equipment that they had purchased. The Goldfines operated the railroad for five seasons. By 1996, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum assumed operation of the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Operating with a strong corps of volunteers and a fleet of historic museum equipment, the North Shore Scenic Railroad has grown into an educational and historically significant operation. 

The railroad operates several locomotives, notably Great Northern Railway EMD NW5 192, DM&IR EMD SD18 193, Budd Rail Diesel Car 9169, Soo Line EMD GP30 700, and Soo Line FP7 2500. Many steam locomotives have seen excursion service in one form or another. The first to operate was , followed by Soo Line 1003 and Milwaukee Road 261, and (most recently) Soo Line 2719. The Duluth & Northeastern 28, a newly restored 2-8-0 Consolidation built in 1906 is now being used by the NSSR.

Duluth & Northeastern 28 has been restored to operation. After D&NE #28's FRA Boiler 15-year limit expires, Soo Line 2719 will be restored to operation and return to the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Milwaukee Road 261 makes occasional visits to Duluth, during which some cars from its excursion train are joined with some of the LSRM's equipment for a dinner special.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Streamliner Special". Archived from the original on 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2014-07-11.

External links[]

Coordinates: 46°46′53″N 92°06′13″W / 46.78139°N 92.10361°W / 46.78139; -92.10361

Retrieved from ""