List of Minnesota railroads explained

The following railroads operate in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

Common freight carriers

Private freight carriers

Passenger carriers

Defunct railroads

NameMarkSystem[1] FromToSuccessorNotes
Albert Lea and Southern RailroadALSIC18991908Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad
Austin and Mankato RailroadGN18801881St. Cloud, Mankato and Austin Railroad
Barnesville and Moorhead RailwayBMRGN18801880St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Bass Brook RailroadBBR18891892N/A
Big Fork and International Falls RailwayBFIFNP19081923Northern Pacific Railway
Big Fork and Northern RailwayBFNNP19051942Northern Pacific Railway
Brainerd and Northern Minnesota RailwayBNMRNP18921901Minnesota and International Railway
Buffalo Ridge RailroadBFRR19891992Nobles Rock Railroad
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern RailwayBCRNRI18761903Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe RailwayBNSF19962005BNSF Railway
Burlington Northern Inc.BN19701981Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern RailroadBN19811996Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Caledonia and Mississippi RailwayCMRCMILW18731880Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad
Caledonia, Mississippi and Western RailroadCMWRMILW18791880Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad3 ft Narrow Gauge
Canadian Northern RailwayCNCN19011923Canadian National Railway
Cannon River Improvement CompanyCGW18721878Minnesota Central Railroad
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls and Northwestern RailwayCRINRI18801902Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway
Cedar Valley RailroadCVAR19841991Cedar River Railroad
Central Railroad of MinnesotaCRCMMILW18721879Southern Minnesota Railway
Chatfield RailroadCHRCCNW18781881Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Cherokee and Dakota RailroadCDRCIC18871888Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Northern RailroadCB&Q18851899Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy RailroadCB&Q, CBQCB&Q18991970Burlington Northern Inc.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy RailwayCB&Q19011907N/ALeased the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota RailroadCCDMMILW18781880Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Chicago and Dakota RailwayCDRYCNW18791881Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Chicago, Dubuque and Minnesota RailroadCDMRMILW18711877Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad
Chicago Great Western RailroadCGWCGW19091941Chicago Great Western Railway
Chicago Great Western RailwayCGWCGW19401968Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago Great Western RailwayCGWCGW18921909Chicago Great Western Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul RailwayCMSPMILW18741928Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific RailroadMILWMILW19281985The Milwaukee Road, Inc.
Chicago and North Western RailwayCNWCNW18701972Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Chicago and North Western Transportation CompanyCNWCNW19721995Union Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailroadRI, ROCKRI19471980Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailwayRIRI19021948Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City RailwayCSPKCCGW18861893Chicago Great Western Railway
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha RailwayCMOCNW18811972Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Cuyuna Iron Range RailwayCIRRCP19081910Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Cuyuna Northern RailwayCNRCNP19111914Northern Pacific Railway
Dakota Rail, Inc.DAKR19852000N/A
Des Moines Valley Railway of MinnesotaDMVRCNW18991900Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Dubuque and Minnesota RailroadDMNRMILW18771878Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad
Dubuque and Sioux City RailroadDSCRIC18881946Illinois Central Railroad
Duluth Beltline
Duluth, Crookston and Northern RailroadDCNRNP18891898Northern Pacific Railway
Duluth, Glencoe and Southwestern RailwayMILW18881900Duluth, St. Cloud, Glencoe and Mankato Railway
Duluth and Iron Range RailroadDIRR18741938Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Duluth and Manitoba RailroadDMRNP18851898Northern Pacific Railway
Duluth and Manitoba RailwayNP18841885Duluth and Manitoba Railroad
Duluth, Missabe and Northern RailwayDM&NDMN18911937Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Duluth, Mississippi River and Northern RailroadDMRNGN18921899Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Duluth and Northeastern RailroadDNE18982002Cloquet Terminal Railroad
Duluth and Northern Minnesota RailwayDNM18981923N/A
Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg RailwayDRLWCN19051912Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway
Duluth, Red Wing and Southern RailroadDRWSCGW18861901Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Duluth, St. Cloud, Glencoe and Mankato RailwayDSCGMILW19001910Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Duluth Short Line RailwayDSLRNP18861898St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic RailroadDSACP19491961Soo Line Railroad
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic RailwayDS&A, DSS&A, DSACP1949Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad
Duluth and Superior Bridge CompanyDSB18941901Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Duluth, Superior and Western RailwayDSWGN18961898Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Duluth Terminal RailwayDTRCGN18871928Great Northern Railway
Duluth Transfer RailroadDTRRNP19021902Northern Pacific Railway
Duluth Transfer RailwayDTRYNP18901902Duluth Transfer Railroad
Duluth Union Depot CompanyDUDNP18891892Duluth Union Depot and Transfer Company
Duluth Union Depot and Transfer CompanyDUDTNP1892N/A
Duluth, Virginia and Rainy Lake RailwayDVRLCN19011905Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg Railway
Duluth and Winnipeg RailroadDWRCGN18781896Duluth, Superior and Western Railway
Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific RailroadCN1909
Eastern Railway of MinnesotaERCMGN18871907Great Northern Railway
Electric Short Line RailroadESLRCP19081915Electric Short Line Terminal Company
Electric Short Line RailwayESLMSTL19081924Minnesota Western Railroad
Electric Short Line Terminal CompanyESLTCCP19151956Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway
Fargo and St. Louis Air Line RailroadMILW18831883Fargo and Southern Railway
Fargo and Southern RailwayFSRCMILW18831885Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Grantsburgh, Rush City and St. Cloud RailroadGRSCNP18781899St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Great Northern RailwayGNGN18891970Burlington Northern Inc.
Green Bay and Minnesota RailroadGBM18741881Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul Railroad
Green Bay and Western RailroadGB&W, GBW18961985N/A
Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul RailroadGBWSP18811896Green Bay and Western Railroad
Gunflint and Lake Superior RailroadG&LS19021909N/A
Hastings and Dakota RailwayHDMILW18671880Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Hastings, Minnesota River and Red River of the North RailroadMILW18571867Hastings and Dakota Railway
Hill City RailwayHCY19151935N/A
Illinois Central RailroadICIC18871972Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
Illinois Central Gulf RailroadICG19721984Cedar Valley Railroad
I&M Rail LinkIMRL19972002Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
International Bridge and Terminal Company19021910Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway
Iowa Central RailwayMSTL19011912Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad
Iowa, Chicago and Eastern RailroadICE20022008Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern RailwayCNW18981900Chicago and North Western Railway
Kettle River RailroadGN18861893Eastern Railway of Minnesota
LaCrosse, Trempealeau and Prescott RailroadCNW18571877Chicago and North Western Railway
Lake Superior and Mississippi RailroadNP18611877St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Lake Superior and South Western RailwayGN18851888Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Little Falls and Dakota RailroadNP18791900Northern Pacific Railway
Little Falls and Southern RailroadNP18901899Northern Pacific Railway
Mankato and New Ulm RailwayCNW18991900Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Mantorville Railway and Transfer CompanyCGW18951896Chicago Great Western Railway
Mason City and Fort Dodge RailroadCGW19051940Chicago Great Western Railroad
Mason City and Fort Dodge RailwayCGW19021905Mason City and Fort Dodge Railroad
McGregor Western RailwayMILW18661867Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Mesabe Southern Railway1894N/A
The Milwaukee Road, Inc.MILWMILW19851986Soo Line Railroad
Milwaukee and St. Paul RailwayMILW18671874Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range RailroadMA&C, MACRGN1929
Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range RailwayMA&CGN19151929Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range RailroadFreight service electrified in 1922
Minneapolis Belt Line CompanyGN19171928Great Northern Railway
Minneapolis and Cedar Valley RailroadMILW18561860Minneapolis, Faribault and Cedar Valley Railroad
Minneapolis and Duluth RailroadNP18711881Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minneapolis Eastern RailwayMINECNW/ MILW1878
Minneapolis, Faribault and Cedar Valley RailroadMILW18621864Minnesota Central Railway
Minneapolis Industrial RailwayMIRMSTL1959
Minneapolis, New Ulm and Southwestern RailroadMSTL18951899Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad
Minneapolis and Northern RailwayGN19121915Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railway
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern RailwayMNSCP19181986Soo Line Railroad
Minneapolis and Northwestern RailroadGN18781883St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Minneapolis and Pacific RailwayCP18841888Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Minneapolis and Rainy River RailwayM&RR19041932N/A
Minneapolis, Red Lake and Manitoba RailwayMRLM19041938N/A
Minneapolis, Rochester and Dubuque Traction CompanyCP1907Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company
Minneapolis and St. Cloud RailroadGN18561889Eastern Railway of Minnesota, Great Northern Railway, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Minneapolis and St. Croix RailwayCP18831888Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway
Minnesota, St. Croix and Wisconsin RailroadCP18841888Wisconsin Central Company
Minneapolis and St. Louis RailroadMSTL18941944Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minneapolis and St. Louis RailwayMSTLMSTL19391960Chicago and North Western Railway
Minneapolis and St. Louis RailwayMSTL18701894Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction CompanyCP19071918Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie RailroadSOO19441961Soo Line Railroad
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie RailwaySOOCP18881944Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad
Minneapolis and St. Paul Terminal RailwayRI19031904Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic RailwayCP18861888Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Minneapolis Union RailwayGN18811907Great Northern Railway
Minneapolis Western RailwayGN18841928Great Northern Railway
Minnesota Belt Line Railway and Transfer CompanyCB&Q/ CGW/ CNW/ CP/ GN/ MILW/ MSTL/ NP/ RI18871898Minnesota Transfer Railway
Minnesota and Black Hills RailroadCNW18791879St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Minnesota Central RailroadMCTA19942000Minnesota Prairie Line, Inc.
Minnesota Central RailroadCGW18571883Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railway
Minnesota Central RailwayMILW18641870McGregor Western Railway, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Minnesota and Dakota Northern RailroadGN18791883St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Minnesota and Great Northern RailwayGN19041907Great Northern Railway
Minnesota and International RailwayMINP19001941Northern Pacific Railway
Minnesota and Iowa RailwayCNW18981900Chicago and North Western Railway
Minnesota and Manitoba RailroadCN1899
Minnesota Midland RailwayMILW18761883Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Minnesota and North Wisconsin Railroad18981912N/A
Minnesota Northern RailroadNP18781881Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills Railroad
Minnesota and Northwestern RailroadCGW18541887Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway
Minnesota and Northwestern RailroadMILW18571872Central Railroad of Minnesota
Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway19131940N/A
Minnesota and Ontario Bridge CompanyCN1899
Minnesota and Pacific RailroadGN, MILW, NP18571860St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Minnesota Short Lines CompanyMSLC
Minnesota and South Dakota RailwayCNW18991900Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Minnesota Transfer RailwayMTFRCB&Q/ CGW/ CNW/ CP/ GN/ MILW/ MSTL/ NP/ RI18831987Minnesota Commercial Railway
Minnesota Valley RailroadCNW18641870St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Minnesota Valley RailwayCNW18761881Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Minnesota Western RailroadMSTL19241932Minnesota Western Railway
Minnesota Western RailroadMSTL18531870Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minnesota Western RailwayMWMSTL19321959Minneapolis Industrial Railway
Minnesota Western RailwayCNW19011902Chicago and North Western Railway
Mississippi, Hill City and Western RailwayMH&W19081915Hill City Railway
MNVA RailroadMNVA19841994Minnesota Central Railroad
Moorhead and South Eastern RailwayGN18841891St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Nebraska and Lake Superior RailroadNP18571861Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad
Nobles Rock RailroadNRR19942000Minnesota Southern Railway
Northern Pacific RailroadNP18641896Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific RailwayNPNP18961970Burlington Northern Inc.
Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills RailroadNP18811898Northern Pacific Railway
Northwestern Coal RailwayGN18941899Superior Belt Line and Terminal Railway
Park Rapids and Leech Lake RailwayGN18971907Great Northern Railway
Plainview RailroadCNW18771881Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Port Arthur, Duluth and Western RailwayCN18921915N/A
Railway Transfer Company of the City of MinneapolisMSTL18831984Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Red Lake Transportation Company18971904Minneapolis, Red Lake and Manitoba Railway
Red River and Lake of the Woods RailwayGN18821883St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Red River and Manitoba RailroadGN18771879St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Red River Valley RailroadGN18751879St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Rochester and Northern Minnesota RailwayCNW18771881Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Root River Valley and Southern Minnesota RailroadMILW18551857Southern Minnesota Railroad
St. Cloud and Lake Traverse RailwayGN18801880St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
St. Cloud, Mankato and Austin RailroadGN18651886St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
St. Croix Railway and Improvement CompanyCNW18721873St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad
St. Paul Bridge and Terminal RailwaySPBCGW1908
St. Paul and Chicago RailwayMILW18671872Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
St. Paul and Dakota RailroadCNW18761878Worthington and Sioux Falls Railroad
St. Paul and Duluth RailroadNP18771900Northern Pacific Railway
St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba RailwayGN18791907Great Northern Railway
St. Paul and Northern Pacific RailwayNP18831896Northern Pacific Railway
St. Paul and Pacific RailroadGN, MILW, NP18621879St. Paul and Chicago Railway, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, Western Railroad of Minnesota
St. Paul and St. Croix RailroadCP18841884Minnesota, St. Croix and Wisconsin Railroad
St. Paul and St. Croix Falls RailwayCP18851888Minnesota, St. Croix and Wisconsin Railroad
St. Paul and Sioux City RailroadCNW18701881Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls RailroadCNW18691880St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
St. Paul Terminal and Transfer CompanyRI19021903Minneapolis and St. Paul Terminal Railway
St. Paul Union Depot CompanySPUDCB&Q/ CGW/ CNW/ CP/ GN/ MILW/ MSTL/ NP/ RI1879
Sauk Center Northern RailwayGN18811883St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Sioux City and St. Paul RailroadCNW18661879St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
South St. Paul Belt RailroadRI18891903Minneapolis and St. Paul Terminal Railway
Southern Minnesota RailroadMILW18571877Minnesota Valley Railroad, Southern Minnesota Railway
Southern Minnesota RailwayMILW18771880Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Southern Minnesota Railway Extension CompanyMILW18781880Southern Minnesota Railway
Spirit Lake Transfer Railway19071937Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Stillwater and Hastings RailwayMILW18801882Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Stillwater and St. Paul RailroadNP18671899St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Stillwater Street Railway and Transfer CompanyNP18781881Union Depot, Street Railway and Transfer Company of Stillwater
Stillwater Union Depot and Transfer CompanyNP18881896Union Depot and Transfer Company of Stillwater
Superior Belt Line and Terminal RailwayGN18991900Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Superior Belt Line and Terminal RailwayGN18911894Northwestern Coal Railway
Superior Short Line RailwayCNW18851895Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Superior Terminal and Belt Line RailwayGN18901891Superior Belt Line and Terminal Railway
Taylors Falls and Lake Superior RailroadNP18751898St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Transit RailroadCNW18551860Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Union Depot, Street Railway and Transfer Company of StillwaterNP18811888Stillwater Union Depot and Transfer Company
Union Depot and Transfer Company of StillwaterNP18961902Northern Pacific Railway
Wadena and Park Rapids RailroadGN18831891St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Watonwan Valley RailwayCNW18991899Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Western Railroad of MinnesotaNP18741883St. Paul and Northern Pacific Railway
Willmar and Sioux Falls RailwayGN18861907Great Northern Railway
Winona Bridge RailwayCB&Q18901985N/A
Winona and La Crosse RailroadCGW18561872Winona and Southwestern Railway
Winona, Mankato and New Ulm RailwayCNW18701880Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Winona and St. Peter RailroadCNW18621900Chicago and North Western Railway
Winona and Southwestern RailwayCGW18721894Winona and Western Railway
Winona and Western RailwayCGW18941901Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Wisconsin Central CompanyCP18881899Wisconsin Central Railway
Wisconsin Central RailroadCP19541961Soo Line Railroad
Wisconsin Central RailwayCP18971954Wisconsin Central Railroad
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific RailroadCGW18941920Chicago Great Western Railroad
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific RailwayCGW18831894Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Worthington and Sioux Falls RailroadCNW18781879St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Electric
Private

References

Notes and References

  1. This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.