The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (MStP&SSM) was a
Class I railroad
In the United States, railroad carriers are designated as Class I, II, or III, according to annual revenue criteria originally set by the Surface Transportation Board in 1992. With annual adjustments for inflation, the 2019 thresholds were US$ ...
subsidiary
A subsidiary, subsidiary company or daughter company is a company owned or controlled by another company, which is called the parent company or holding company. Two or more subsidiaries that either belong to the same parent company or having a s ...
of the
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
in the
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
. Commonly known since its opening in 1884 as the Soo Line
[ after the ]phonetic spelling
A phonemic orthography is an orthography (system for writing a language) in which the graphemes (written symbols) correspond to the phonemes (significant spoken sounds) of the language. Natural languages rarely have perfectly phonemic orthographi ...
of Sault, it was merged with several other major CP subsidiaries on January 1, 1961 to form the Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , one of seven U.S. Class I railroads, controlled through the Soo Line Corporation. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sa ...
.
Passenger service
The Soo Line was never a major carrier of passenger traffic since its route between Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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and Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
was much longer than the competing Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), often referred to as the "Milwaukee Road" , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986.
The company experience ...
(Milwaukee Road), Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...
, and Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington Route, the Burlington, or as the Q, it operated extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illin ...
(Burlington Route) routes. It also had no direct access to Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
.
The primary trains operated by the Soo Line were:
* The ''Laker'' which operated an overnight service from Chicago's Grand Central Station to Duluth–Superior with a portion to Minneapolis–St. Paul. An additional portion served Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland is a city in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat of Ashland County. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon Bay. The population was 7,908 at the 2020 census, al ...
until January 1959. The ''Laker'' was discontinued completely on January 15, 1965.
* The '' Winnipeger'' which operated overnight between Minneapolis–St. Paul and Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
. It was discontinued in March 1967.
* A Minneapolis–St. Paul to Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West or the Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a Canadian region that includes the four western provinces just north of the Canada†...
service. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Soo Line operated the ''Soo-Pacific'', a summer-only Chicago
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to Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
service with the Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
. This later became The ''Mountaineer'', which was then reduced to Minneapolis–St. Paul to Vancouver, before being discontinued in early August 1960. The ''Mountaineer'' was a summer-season-only train that carried exclusively sleeping cars but no coaches. During the non-summer months, the train ran as the ''Soo-Dominion'' from Minneapolis–St. Paul to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is the fourth largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. Lying on the Moose Jaw River in the south-central part of the province, it is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina, Saskatchewan, Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are k ...
, where it was combined into Canadian Pacific's '' The Dominion'' transcontinental passenger train. It was cut back to a St. Paul to Portal, North Dakota
Portal is a city in Burke County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 125 at the 2020 census. Portal was founded in 1893.
Portal sits along the Canada–United States border and is a major port of entry for road and rail traffic. No ...
run after CP discontinued passenger service to Portal at the end of 1960, before being discontinued entirely in December 1963.
* A Minneapolis–St. Paul to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie ( ') is the only city in, and county seat of, Chippewa County, Michigan, Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. With a population of 13,337 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the second-most populated ...
overnight train, which was discontinued in March 1959.
Additionally, local trains served Chicago to Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth–Superior to Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth to Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Thief River Falls, sometimes referred to as Thief River or abbreviated as TRF, is a city in Pennington County in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,749 at the 2020 census. Thief River Falls is the county ...
, 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:
* William D. Washburn, 1883–1889
* Thomas Lowry
Thomas Lowry (February 27, 1843 – February 4, 1909) was an American lawyer, real-estate magnate, and businessman who oversaw much of the early growth of the streetcar lines in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding com ...
, 1889–1890, 1892–1909
* F. N. Finney, 1890–1892
* Edmund Pennington, 1909–1922
* George Ray Huntington, 1922–1923
* C. T. Jaffray, 1924–1937
* G. W. Webster, 1937–1944
* H. C. Grout, 1944–1949
* G. Allen MacNamara, 1950–1960
Timeline
* September 29, 1883: A consortium of flour mill owners in Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
form the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway to build a railroad between its two namesake cities to avoid sending shipments through Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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.
* February 23, 1884: The presidents of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a transcontinental railroad that operated across the northern tier of the western United States, from Minnesota to the Pacific Northwest. It was approved by Congress in 1864 and given nearly of land grants, whic ...
sign an agreement allowing the MSSM&A to use in perpetuity NP track and facilities in Minneapolis and granting an entry to Saint Paul Union Depot
Saint Paul Union Depot is a historic railroad station and intermodal transit hub in the Lowertown neighborhood of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It serves light rail, intercity rail, intercity bus, and local bus services.
I ...
. NP's board of directors approved the agreement on March 6.
* March 1884: The first construction contracts are awarded for grading of line starting from a point near Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
Turtle Lake is a village in Barron County, Wisconsin, Barron and Polk County, Wisconsin, Polk counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its population was 1,064 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Of these, 972 were in Barron County and ...
. President Washburn receives authorization from the board of directors to place orders for rolling stock.
* November 7, 1884: The ceremonial first train departed Minneapolis to tour from there to Bruce, Wisconsin
Bruce is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 779 at the 2010 census. The village was founded in 1884 by the Sault Ste. Marie Land and Improvement Company. The land company was incorporated and led by the princi ...
, the extent of the line that had been constructed so far. On its opening for regular service on November 15,[ ] the line measured .
* January 5, 1888: The MStP&SSM's first train departed Minneapolis with 102 cars of flour divided into five sections for Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
, London, England
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...
and Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
.
* June 11, 1888: The Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
acquires control of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway, consolidating it with the Minneapolis and Pacific Railway, Minneapolis and St. Croix Railway, and Aberdeen, Bismarck and North Western Railway to form the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway.
* 1904: The Soo Line acquires the Bismarck, Washburn and Great Falls Railway
The Bismarck, Washburn and Great Falls Railway (BW&GF) was a railroad that was organized in North Dakota on May 12, 1899. Its offices were located in Bismarck, North Dakota, Bismarck, North Dakota.
History
The BW&GF started as the Bismarck, Was ...
.
* 1908: The Soo Line acquires a majority interest in the Wisconsin Central Railway, and obtains a 99-year lease of the property in 1909.
* 1910: The Soo line acquires the Cuyuna Iron Range Railway.
* 1913: The Soo Line acquires the Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway and the Fairmount and Veblen Railway.
* 1921: The Soo Line acquires the Wisconsin and Northern Railroad.
* 1932: The Wisconsin Central Railway enters receivership.
* December 31, 1937: The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway files for bankruptcy.
* 1944: The Wisconsin Central Railway enters bankruptcy.
* September 1, 1944: The Soo Line reorganization takes effect, emerging as the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad.
* 1953: The Valley City Street and Interuban Railway is sold to the Soo Line.
* 1954: The Wisconsin Central emerges from its bankruptcy as the Wisconsin Central Railroad.
* January 1, 1961: The Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , one of seven U.S. Class I railroads, controlled through the Soo Line Corporation. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sa ...
is formed through a merger of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, Wisconsin Central Railroad, and Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad
The Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway (DSS&A) was an American railroad serving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Lake Superior shoreline of Wisconsin. It provided service from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and St. Ignace, Michigan, west ...
.
Locomotives
Preservation
A number of the railroad's rolling stock has been preserved in museums across the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, some in operational condition. This list includes some of the more notable equipment.
Steam locomotives
* 321, restored B class 0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and no trailing wheels. This was the most common wheel arrangemen ...
built in 1887 by Rhode Island Locomotive Works
Rhode Island Locomotive Works was a steam locomotive manufacturing company in Providence, Rhode Island. The factory produced more than 3,400 locomotives between 1867 and 1906, when the plant's locomotive production was shut down. At its peak, the ...
. Later rebuilt as an 0-6-0 tank engine, numbered X-90 and used as a shop switcher. Rebuilt back to a tender engine in preservation.
* 346, restored B-4 class 0-6-0 built in 1915 by ALCO
The American Locomotive Company (often shortened to ALCO, ALCo or Alco) was an American manufacturer of locomotives, diesel generators, steel, and tanks that operated from 1901 to 1969. The company was formed by the merger of seven smaller locomo ...
.
* 353, restored B-4 class 0-6-0 built in 1920 by ALCO.
* 440, restored F-8 class 2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. ...
built by ALCO, displayed in Memorial Park in Harvey, North Dakota
Harvey is a city in Wells County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2020 census. Harvey was founded in 1893 as a division point by the Soo Line Railway. Harvey is believed to have been named for a director of the Soo ...
.
* 735, restored H-3 class 4-6-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. The locomotiv ...
built by ALCO, displayed in Roosevelt Park in Minot, North Dakota
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Air Force base approximately north of the city. With a population of 48,377 at the 20 ...
.
* 950, a 2-10-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement was of ...
, the only one of its type owned by Soo Line, displayed in front of the old depot in Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland is a city in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat of Ashland County. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon Bay. The population was 7,908 at the 2020 census, al ...
.
* 1003, restored L-1 class 2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and two trailing wheel ...
built in 1913 by ALCO.
* Soo Line 1024, restored 2-8-2, on display at city hall, Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Thief River Falls, sometimes referred to as Thief River or abbreviated as TRF, is a city in Pennington County in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,749 at the 2020 census. Thief River Falls is the county ...
.
* 2645, E-25 class 4-6-0
A 4-6-0 steam locomotive, under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, has four leading wheels on two axles in a leading bogie and six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles with the abse ...
built by Brooks Locomotive Works
The Brooks Locomotive Works manufactured railroad steam locomotives and freight cars from 1869 through its merger into the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in 1901.
History
When the New York and Erie Railroad (NY&E) relocated its shops facili ...
in 1900 for the Wisconsin Central Railway as their 247.
* 2713, restored H-21 class 4-6-2 built in 1913 by ALCO Schenectady. It is located in Veterans Memorial Park in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. The city was incorporated in 1858.
Its 2020 population of 25,666 makes it the largest city in the county. Stevens Point forms the core of the United States Census Bur ...
. With it is Soo Line caboose
A caboose is a crewed North American railroad car coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provide shelter for crew at the end of a train, who were formerly required in switching and shunting, keeping a lookout for load shifting, damag ...
99052, built in 1908 for the Wisconsin Central Railway, their 158.
* 2714, restored H-22 class 4-6-2 built in 1914 by ALCO Schenectady. It is located in Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac () is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 44,678 at the 2020 census. The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Fond du Lac United States metrop ...
.
* 2718, restored H-23 class 4-6-2 built in 1923 by ALCO.
* 2719, restored H-23 class 4-6-2 built in 1923 by ALCO. This locomotive hauled the Soo Line's last steam-powered train in excursion service in 1959.[ Gilchinski, Steve (February 1997). pp. 24–25]
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
External links
Soo Line Historical and Technical Society
Soo Line Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minneapolis Saint Paul Sault Sainte Marie Railroad
Soo Line Railroad
Canadian Pacific Railway subsidiaries
Defunct companies based in Minneapolis
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Former Class I railroads in the United States
Predecessors of the Canadian Pacific Railway
">Railway companies established in 1944
Railway companies disestablished in 1961
Defunct Montana railroads
Defunct North Dakota railroads
Defunct South Dakota railroads
Defunct Minnesota railroads
Defunct Wisconsin railroads
Defunct Michigan railroads
Defunct Illinois railroads
Railroads in the Chicago metropolitan area
American companies established in 1944
American companies disestablished in 1961