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The Twin Cities and Western Railroad

The Twin Cities and Western Railroad is a Class III, shortline headquartered in Glencoe, Minnesota and operating along the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (Milwaukee Road) Pacific Northwest main line through Minnesota. The railroad began operations in 1991 taking over the Soo Line Railroad's former "Ortonville Line", the section of Milwaukee Road main line it had acquired through its 1985 purchase of the railroad.

With trackage rights included the TC&W from extreme eastern Minnesota where it connects with BNSF Railway, Canadian Pacific, and Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (ICE) to eastern South Dakota at Milbank (where it again connects with the BNSF and shortline Sisseton Milbank Railroad). Along with this main route the TC&W also operates a branch between Norwood and Granite Falls, Minnesota as well as connections to the Twin Cities and Savage, Minnesota. In total the TC&W has major connections with four major Class I railroads; Union Pacific, BNSF, CP, and Canadian National.

The Twin Cities and Western Railroad has become quite a successful shortline operation over the last 17+ years, in no small part due to its many Class I connections and diversified traffic base which includes, according to the railroad, "coal, grains (corn, wheat, barley), soybeans, sugar, beet pulp pellets, lumber and other forest products, canned vegetables, edible beans, molasses, DDGs, fertilizers, crushed rock and agricultural machinery."

Twin Cities and Western Railroad Diesel Locomotive Roster

· EMD CF7 #302: Originally built as Santa Fe #261C in August, 1951.

· EMD GP10 #402: Originally built as Great Northern GP7 #623 in April, 1951.

· EMD GP10 #403: Originally built as Illinois Central GP9 #9146 in January, 1956.

· EMD GP10 #404: Originally built as Boston & Maine GP9 #1710 in September, 1957.

· EMD GP10 #405: Originally built as Illinois Central GP9 #9049 in December, 1954.

· EMD GP10 #406: Originally built as Illinois Central GP9 #9144 in January, 1956.

· EMD GP10 #407: Originally built as Union Pacific GP9B #163B in March, 1954.

· EMD GP10 #408: Originally built as Illinois Central GP9 #9317 in December, 1957.

· EMD GP39-2 #790

· EMD SW9 #1206

· EMD CF7 #236C: Originally built as Santa Fe F7A #236C in April, 1950.

· EMD GP20C #2004: Originally built as Great Northern GP20 #2012 in April, 1960.

· EMD GP20C #2008: Originally built as Chicago, Burlington & Quincy GP20 #906 in February, 1961.

· EMD GP20C #2053

· EMD GP20C #3516: Originally built as Chicago, Burlington & Quincy GP20 #901 in February, 1961.

· EMD GP30C #4300: Originally built as Union Pacific GP30 #832 in August 1962.

· EMD GP30C #4301: Originally built as Union Pacific GP30 #828 in August 1962.

· EMD GP30C #4302: Originally built as Union Pacific GP30 #805 in September 1962.

For more information about the Twin Cities and Western Railroad please click here to visit their official website.

For more reading on shortlines like the Twin Cities and Western Railroad consider the book American Shortline Railway Guide from author Ed Lewis. The book has gone through several updated editions to keep up with the ever-changing world of the shortline industry. Today, the publication highlights almost 600 shortlines across the country with general background information about each (such as roster information, rail line history, radio frequencies, etc.). If you have any interest in shortlines you will very likely enjoy this book. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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