I arose and put the corrections in the stories before having breakfast then wrote and uploaded the Lake Superior & Mississippi story before converting the pictures from yesterday's excursion. I walked the Duluth Skywalk, the enclosed overhead walkway that connects the main points of the city and keeps you out of the weather, over to the Radisson Hotel where I met Sarah Jennings. At the station, I met my friend Bob, a fellow NRHS member and who else was there but Bart Jennings, who bought a one-way ticket to Two Harbors. The morning train to Lester River was loading late and then departed.
North Shore Scenic Railroad HistoryThe North Shore Scenic Railroad operates on a 28 mile stretch of track between Duluth and Two Harbors. Public excursions start in early summer and run through the holiday season. In 1990, 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. The following year, the Goldfines, a local family, took over operation of the railroad and operated it as a for-profit entity, using equipment that they had purchased. The Goldfines operated the railroad for five seasons.
In 1995, 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. This is the museum’s tenth season operating the NSSR. The North Shore Scenic Railroad operates excursions along the historic Lakefront Line, a 26-mile 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 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.
As the iron ore industry developed in Minnesota, this new connection provided an all-rail route for the timely delivery of supplies, materials, and personnel to the rapidly growing settlements of the Vermilion Range. It also played a critical role in the development of the Mesabi Range. Before the Lake Division was constructed, prospectors, explorers, and entrepreneurs interested in the exciting prospects of the Mesabi Range had to travel over long and dangerous routes, either by canoe on the St. Louis-Embarrass River chain or on foot or horseback over the Vermilion Trail. From 1886 until 1892, when construction of the Duluth, Mesabi and Northern Railway was finally completed, all transportation moved over the Duluth and Iron Range Railway and its Lake Division to the boom town, Mesabi, where travelers and their supplies were transferred to horse and wagon for a bumpy journey over the Mesabi Trail to the far reaches of the Mesabi Range.
Over the years, the Lake Division became known as the Lakefront Line. During its long history, a general merchandise train, the Ely Local, transported freight from Endion Yard to Two Harbors and to communities on the Vermilion Range. Cars destined for Mesabi Range cities were set out at Two Harbors to be carried to their destinations by the Virginia Local. During the heyday of logging, thousands of trains carried pine logs to the sawmills in Duluth. One of the principal log suppliers was the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railroad, which interchanged trains with the D&IR Railway on the Lakefront Line at Knife River. Pulpwood shipments continued over the line until the late 1970s, when highly-competitive over-the-road trucks became the chosen mode of transportation.
In addition to hauling freight, the Lakefront Line also saw passenger service. Beginning in 1887, the D&IR Railway and the St. Paul and Duluth Railway jointly operated fifteen daily trains between downtown Duluth and Lester Park. This suburban rail service was discontinued in 1892 when the Duluth Street Railway offered a more convenient mode of transportation. Before good roadways or reliable automobiles were developed, the D&IR Railway operated two daily mainline passenger trains between Duluth and the Iron Range communities. Each train consist included a parlor-cafe car known for its excellent food, particularly their delicious Minnesota blueberry pies. During the summer months, wealthy patrons from Chicago and other major Midwestern cities enjoyed the splendid train rides as they traveled to and from their summer homes on Lake Vermilion.
The morning train stopped at several trout streams along the north shore, where the fishermen were dropped off for a day of fishing. They were picked up in the late afternoon by the returning train. In 1953, passenger trains pulled by steam locomotives were replaced by a self-propelled diesel Budd Car, which handled the ever-diminishing passenger traffic until 1961, when all passenger service was discontinued. In the early 1980's, changing economic trends and a sharp decline in business prompted the Duluth, Mesabi and Iron Range Railroad, a successor company to the D&IR, to apply to the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon the Lakefront Line. Members of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum recognized the potential value of the scenic line as an opportunity to interpret history in a dynamic way.
To preserve the line, they lobbied successfully for the creation of the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority, which purchased the twenty-seven mile railroad with a substantial grant from the State of Minnesota. At a gala celebration held at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum on June 8, 1989, the Lakefront Line was renamed the North Shore Scenic Railroad and was officially dedicated by Governor Rudy Perpich. This significant event closed a century of colorful history. Today, the North Shore Scenic Railroad carries over 100,000 passengers annually. It attracts visitors from around the world to visit Duluth, Minnesota and experience the rich history of the area. Under the watchful care of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, the line sees alot of unique historic railroad equipment on it, while the track itself is cared for by the St. Louis & Lake Counties Regional Rail Authority. Trains operate throughout the year, including some limited winter freight operations.
A few minutes later, North Shore Scenic RDC-1 9169 pulled into Duluth station.
North Shore Scenic Railroad RDC-1 9169, ex. Baltimore and Ohio 9910, nee Chicago and North Western 9934 built by Budd Company in 1951. The crew loaded the snacks and then the passengers. Bart, Bob and I would sit near each other to visit most of the way to Two Harbors while I took pictures.
Bart and Bob as the RDC left Duluth Union Station, reversing as usual before proceeding north.
Some of the museum's engines waiting to be restored.
The train took us by the harbor.
Duluth Beach.
The north shore of Duluth as we left town.
The final waterside view before we turned inland.
Crossing the 165 foot Lester River bridge, named in honour of an area pioneer, built by the American Bridge Company in 1944 for the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad.
Our crew lined the switch at Lester River.
We ran around the train at Lester River.
Tischer Creek, where people swim.
French River, whose Indian name was "Angwassago-zibi", which means Floodwood River. The French called it "Riviere des Francais", which translates to its present name.
A pond with plenty of pond scum.
The Big Sucker River bridge, where the bridge scene from "Iron Will" was filmed.
Rounding a curve.
The Knife River. Copper prospectors first settled here in 1854. In 1898, it became a logging center when the Alger-Smith Logging Company made it the terminus of the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway, which extended 100 miles northeast into Lake and Cook Counties.
Stored Detroit Edison Company coal cars.
Our train passed under the Canadian National Railway, former Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad.
Interior of RDC-1 9169.
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range ore car 52993 with an emblem of that fallen flag railroad.
The Two Harbors Yard.
We would pass this switch then reverse to get into Two Harbors station.
Bart Jennings with one of his famous mileage books.
Our engineer running the RDC.
Our train pulled into the station.
Our RDC sitting in front of the station.
Bob and I took the shuttle bus to the Black Woods Bar & Grill where I had a steak sandwich then we walked back to the station and said goodbye to Bart, who was being picked up by Sarah to return to Duluth by automobile.
This was a special photographers train that was chartered this morning from Duluth.
The RDC in front of the station, after which we walked down to the shore of Lake Superior.
The author in Lake Superior.
The Canadian National ore dock.
Two Harbors looking towards the lighthouse. We walked back towards the station.
Our train looked very good in the afternoon sunlight.
Bob and I by the RDC before we boarded for the trip back to Duluth. I relaxed most of the way back and saw some new things.
One can order a pie fron Lighthouse on Homestead in Duluth on the way to Two Harbors and they are delivered to the train by this truck at a grade crossing on the way back.
These are the pies in their containers before being delivered to the passengers who ordered them.
Lakeside, where our train reversed into the siding to let the 3:00 PM Lester River Train pass.
The Lester River Train. Once the switch was thrown, we continued our return journey.
An ore ship went under the Aerial Lift Bridge and out into Lake Superior.
Lake Superior Railroad Museum S12 7243, ex. Cliffs Erie Railroad 7243, exx. Erie Mining Company 7243, nee Erie Mining 403 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1956.
Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic RS1 101, ex. Consolidated Grain and Barge, exx. SOO Line 101, ex. Algiers, Winslow and Western 3, nee Duluth Shore and Atlantic 101 built by American Locomotive Company in 1945.
The train returned us to Duluth and I walked back to the Best Western via the Skywalk where I worked on the stories before taking the Skywalk over to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center where the NRHS Banquet was held.
NRHS Banquet
I stayed for the social hour and dinner which I ate with these members at the table and enjoyed the Prime Rib. Needing a good night's sleep, I excused myself and walked back to the Best Western via the Skywalk and finished the story from today's trip. I was now caught up and could go to bed before 10:00 PM for the first time this whole trip.
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