Minnesota Railroad Jobs

Regardless of the company you may ultimately work for, Minnesota railroad jobs can be pretty ruthless just due to the weather alone as the state is notorious for downright nasty winters and snow falling well into the spring of the year. If you live in Minnesota and are interested in a railroad career the state is home to four of the six Class Is (Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific) along with two Class II, regionals and a handful of smaller Class III, shortlines. As such, you have a very good opportunity at landing a job with one of these companies (most likely a Class I or Class II). To get a better idea of what the state's current railroad system looks like please click here to view this report from the Association of American Railroads.

A pair of Soo Line GP9s, #2556 (wearing the newer red and white livery) and #2552 (sporting the older maroon and yellow scheme), rest at the yard in St. Paul on June 1, 1964.

Working within the railroad industry really becomes a way of life, particularly if you hire on in with a Class I in either transportation or maintenance where one is constantly out on the road. Couple this with the harsh weather Minnesota has to offer and you really may want to think long and hard if a career in railroading is right for you. Typically, railroaders not only work long, 12-hour days but they also spend many nights away from home and in a hotel. While smaller railroads do offer a more predictable schedule they cannot match the excellent pay, benefits, and retirement of Class Is. In the end, you will have to weigh the pros and cons yourself in deciding if becoming a railroader is something you want to do.

For college students who may be researching a career in railroading, several Class Is offer internship and graduate programs in either management or business to get your foot in the door early. To learn more about these programs please visit each company's career page below. On that note, for more information regarding Minnesota railroad jobs, please visit the links below or the railroad's individual contact information concerning possible openings. Finally, I get a lot of e-mails about employment, job openings, and what all is involved. I really cannot provide anymore information than what has already been presented here. To learn more you will simply need to begin contacting the railroads themselves.

Lastly, to search for Minnesota railroad jobs directly please use the below search box from Indeed.com.

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Class I Railroads

Amtrak

BNSF Railway

Canadian National Railway

Canadian Pacific Railway

Union Pacific

Regional, Class II Railroads

Northern Plains Railroad: This regional railroad is mostly concentrated in North Dakota, leasing nearly 400 miles of track from carriers such as Canadian Pacific, Mohall Railroad, and the Mohall Central Railroad. For information about possible employment opportunities please click here.

Red River Valley & Western Railroad: The RRV&W is a 500+ mile regional railroad that operates former Burlington Northern trackage mostly located in North Dakota northwest of Wahpeton (although its lines do stretch into extreme western Minnesota). For more information about possible job openings please click here.

Shortline, Class III Railroads

Cloquet Terminal Railroad: This terminal railroad operates just four miles of track near the town of Cloquet, connecting with the BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific. For contact information; 315 Saint Louis Avenue, Cloquet, Minnesota 55720-1562. Phone 218-878-0604.

Great Northern NW2 #159 switches the yard in Minneapolis on June 8, 1964.

Minnesota Commercial Railway: This medium-sized shortline railroad operates about 150 miles of track right around the Twin Cities. For contact information about possible openings please click here.

Minnesota, Dakota & Western Railway: The historic MD&W (created in 1910) is a small shortline railroad operating just 4 miles of trackage between International Falls and Ranier. For contact information; P.O. Box 19, International Falls, Minnesota 56649. Phone 218-285-5290.

Minnesota Northern Railroad: This large shortline operates more than 200 miles of track in the western areas of the state connecting with Class Is BNSF and CP. For contact information; P. O. Box 705, Crookston, Minnesota 56716. Phone 218-281-4704.

Minnesota Prairie Line: The MPL is a subsidiary of the Twin Cities & Western operating nearly 100 miles of track between Granite Falls and Hamburg. For information about possible job openings please visit the TC&W's website listed below.

Minnesota Southern Railway: This shortline operates a stretch of trackage in southern Minnesota between Beaver Creek and Worthington. For contact information; P. O. Box 562, Luverne, Minnesota 56156. Phone 507-283-4269.

Northern Lines Railway: This rather small shortline is owned by Anacostia & Pacific operating about 25 miles of track between St. Clouid, St. Joseph, and Cold Spring. For contact information please visit their website.

Otter Tail Valley Railroad: This shortline is part of G&W's large family of railroads operating just over 80 miles of track between Fargo and Fergus Falls.

Progressive Rail, Inc.: Progressive Rail operates trackage in three different states and takes its paint scheme from the historic Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway (whose former trackage it also operates). To learn more about potential employment opportunities please click here to visit their website.

St. Croix Valley Railroad: This railroad operates about 36 miles of track between Hinkley and North Branch. The company is headquartered in Rush City. For contact information; 175 West 4th Street, Rush City, Minnesota 55069. Phone 320-358-0276.

Twin Cities & Western Railroad: The Twin Cities & Western Railroad operates the former Milwaukee Road's Seattle-Chicago main line between the Twin Cities and Appleton operating more than 200 miles of track (including its MPL subsidiary). To contact the railroad about possible employment please click here.

For more information about shortline railroads that serve Minnesota please click here to visit the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's website.

Canadian National GP9 #4312 and a mate appear to be taking on sand at the yard in Duluth on August 22, 1966.

Finally, if a career in railroading is right for you but you would like to learn more about what it takes to work in the industry you might want to consider the book Working on the Railroad from noted author Brian Solomon. Solomon's book details the history of working in the railroad industry and the difficulties and hardship employees faced back then as well as today. After reading this book you should have no doubts about whether working in the industry is something you are truly interested in. In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.