The Soo Line diesel roster was mostly made up of EMDs although it also included locomotive models from GE, Alco, and even Baldwin. For a complete/all-time Soo Line diesel roster please click here. This list of surviving Soo diesel locomotives will be categorized by original numbers the railroad assigned its units and where they are today, whether in operation, cosmetically restored, or in some state of preservation at railroad museums and tourist railroads. Also, just as something to keep in mind if you are not aware, while some locomotives may be painted/preserved in Soo colors this does not necessarily mean that they are of Soo heritage (and likewise, some locomotives may be of Soo heritage that are not in Soo colors).
The Soo Line Railroad (“Soo” refers to the word "Sault" in the Canadian city of Sault Ste. Marie, is spoken as "Sue"), officially known for much of its life as the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway, was a medium-sized Class I system that stretched throughout the upper Midwest connecting cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul, with points west in North Dakota and southern Canadian (such as Winnipeg and Sault Ste. Marie). Somewhat of northern granger line the railroad was always a smaller line surrounded by those much larger, such as the Milwaukee Road, Burlington, and Great Northern.
However, up until its takeover of the floundering Milwaukee Road in 1985, for most of its life the Soo was a well maintained and managed company, earning healthy profits in a territory blanketed with competitors. Perhaps what makes this railroad so interesting is that its system crossed the U.S./Canadian border and along with serving the northern plains of America also served the southern Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.
Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
· EMD GP30 #700: Preserved by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum as Soo #700.
· EMD GP30 #714: Preserved by the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin as Wisconsin Central #715.
Also, it should be noted that some former Soo Line switcher and road units continue to remain in some state of operation and in active revenue service with Class Is (particularly with parent Canadian Pacific), Regionals, shortlines, or leasing companies. To learn more about the disposition of these locomotives please click here to visit The Diesel Shop.
While this list will continually be updated it certainly does not completely cover every surviving unit, which was on the Soo Line diesel roster. So, if you know of any other survivors out there, whether they are parked and gleaming in a museum or sitting out in the weeds along a forgotten siding please let me know so we can keep this list growing, and you will be given full credit for your help.
For a pictorial history of the Soo during its last three decades of operation consider Soo Line: 1975-1992 Photo Archive from author Frank Jordan. If you have any kind of an interest in the Soo you will likely find the book very enjoyable. You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.
