Enjoyable evening. On the way up there I saw another fast black tank car train on the main line above the freeway north. This is a Canadian Pacific main line. I have some friends who have a band and rent a house right next to these tracks. One fast train every ten minutes 24/7.
A bit of history here. Just north of downtown Minneapolis is an island right in the middle of the Mississippi. http://www.nicolletisland.org/ If you open the link you will see a pair of SHORT railway bridges. East of this there is a flat terrain route to the Mississippi River on the East side of downtown St. Paul, the most northern practical Mississippi River port. To the west the tracks run north of the Minnesota river and South of the Mississippi River. All flat land with no large bridges. It crosses to North Dakota at Browns Valley, the continental divide land bridge (or originally did). It stays North of the Missouri. Basically no significant grades or rivers to cross.
The event was enjoyable, some friends brought their kids. If you get the picture of the train the four passenger cars are at the end then a steam car with the two cones on top. Next is a boxcar with the big dark spot. That is a drawbridge stage that opens up. They had a pretty good live band playing. Temperatures in mid 20's. The wind died down right after dark.
Anyway, I did a bit of research on Canadian Pacific Railway. You might recall from your youth the red and white Soo Line railroad equipment. Soo line technically still exists but it is subsidiary of CP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soo_Line_Railroad The Soo Line color equipment is extremely rare. Some old rail maintenance boxcars. Note the old Soo Line (red) track below: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Soo_Line.png/250px-Soo_Line.png
A bit of history here. Just north of downtown Minneapolis is an island right in the middle of the Mississippi. http://www.nicolletisland.org/ If you open the link you will see a pair of SHORT railway bridges. East of this there is a flat terrain route to the Mississippi River on the East side of downtown St. Paul, the most northern practical Mississippi River port. To the west the tracks run north of the Minnesota river and South of the Mississippi River. All flat land with no large bridges. It crosses to North Dakota at Browns Valley, the continental divide land bridge (or originally did). It stays North of the Missouri. Basically no significant grades or rivers to cross.
That is the old red Soo Line. Not quite Williston but close. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Pacific_Railway
Perfect for hauling Minnesota fracking sand to the Bakken! It should give Warren Buffet some competition! (and explain the tanker trains I have been seeing here in the Twin Cities.
BE SURE TO SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SEE THE HOLIDAY TRAIN.
Subject: File photo of entire train
CLICK ON LINK TO SEE FULL PICTURE.
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