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Minnesota Scenic Train Rides: A Complete Guide

Last revised: February 22, 2025

By: Adam Burns

In time, Minnesota blossomed into a strategic and important location for many railroads.  Most sought entry into the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis while agriculture abounded throughout the state.

At its peak there more over 9,000 route miles blanketed its lands, served by names like:

• Minneapolis & St. Louis
• Great Northern
• Northern Pacific
• Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (Milwaukee Road)
• Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line)
• Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (Burlington)
• Chicago & North Western

As other transportation modes gained favor, particularly trucks and automobiles, several routes, or segments thereof (notably secondary, light density branch lines), were abandoned. 

Today, Minnesota contains less than half its all-time high in mileage although many organizations have sprang up over the years to tell its rich history with trains.  

Two noteworthy include the North Shore Scenic Railroad and Minnesota Transportation Museum, the latter of which also operates the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway.  

Please note!  The guide here pertains only to Minnesota scenic train rides related to vacation and tourism destinations.  If you are interested in intercity/long distance rail travel please visit Amtrak's website.

Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-10-2 #514 (built as Duluth, Missabe & Northern #514) leads an Illini Club fan trip over the railroad, circa 1961. Photographer unknown. American-Rails.com collection.

State Rail History

Minnesota's first railroad actually put into operation was the St. Paul & Pacific. 

According to the book "The Great Northern Railway, A History" by authors Ralph W. Hidy, Muriel E. Hidy, Roy V. Scott, and Don L. Hofsommer, this system began as the Minnesota & Pacific Railroad Company (M&P), formed on May 22, 1857. 

To help procure financing it was provided land grants in an effort to link Stillwater, along the St. Croix River, with the Missouri River at the Minnesota Territory's western boundary. 

Along the way it would connect St. Paul, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis.  There was also a branch line envisioned to run from St. Anthony to St. Vincent, via Anoka and Crow Wing. 

The M&P initially had strong support and grading began between St. Paul and St. Anthony that same year.  However, interest soon cooled and the endeavor foundered. 

It needed 10 miles completed to receive additional state bonds but its outlook appeared bleak. 

The company's first locomotive, the 4-4-0 William Crooks (named for the railroad's chief engineer) arrived on the steamboat Alhambra in St. Paul on September 9, 1861. 

It was soon complemented by another 4-4-0, the Edmund Rice, that arrived only weeks later.  

Things finally got back on the track when the state legislature (Minnesota officially joined the Union on May 11, 1858) disbanded the Minnesota & Pacific and transferred all rights to the new St. Paul & Pacific Railroad following the act of March 10, 1862. 

The StP&P, picking up where the M&P left off, worked quickly and completed the St. Paul-St. Anthony line only weeks later. 

The William Crooks pulled its first train on June 28, 1862, earning the railroad distinction as Minnesota's first put into service. 

The state's rail mileage would eventually grow to over 9,100 by the 1920's, according to John Stover's book "The Routledge Historical Atlas Of The American Railroads."  It was served by those companies previously mentioned in addition to the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway. 

The DM&IR moved an abundance of iron ore from the state's rich Mesabi and Vermilion Ranges, located north of Duluth. 

Overview

Today, the North Shore Scenic Railroad keeps alive the DM&IR's history and offers visitors many excursion options, from dinner trains to trips pulled by steam locomotives.

If you enjoy trolleys, consider visiting the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line near the Twin Cities.

They operate as both a museum and light-rail-transit system, providing riders a journey aboard historic trolley cars around the popular Chain of Lakes area.

Como-Harriet Streetcar Line/Minnesota Streetcar Museum

The Minnesota Streetcar Museum (formed in 2005), based in Excelsior operates excursions on a half-mile stretch of the former Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway right-of-way.

The M&StL may have been the smallest classic granger but perhaps best typified Midwestern railroading.  

The so-called Peoria Gateway was only a few hundred miles in length, and relied heavily on agricultural in a region already dominated by much stronger carriers. 

Despite eroding business after World War II, a sea of competitors, and a stagnate customer base, the M&StL somehow remained profitable right up until its acquisition by Chicago & North Western in 1960.  

The Tootin' Louie's history began in earnest shortly after the Civil War to serve flour mills in a young Twin Cities.  The railroad eventually expanded to the south and west although never reached markets larger than Minneapolis/St. Paul. 

The museum operates along the Twin Cities' popular Chain of Lakes recreational area that draws thousands of visitors annually, particularly during the summer months.  They currently have five streetcars in service.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad

The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad, overseen by the Lake Superior Transportation Club, is based in Duluth and operates on trackage originally built by a company of the same name, later acquired by Northern Pacific. 

The NP is credited as the first transcontinental railroad completed into the Pacific Northwest when it opened a through route from Duluth/Superior to Tacoma, via the Twin Cities.

At first, it appeared it would be built without difficulty as noted banker Jay Cooke secured several million dollars in financing (this individual also owned the original Lake Superior & Mississippi which completed a route from Duluth to St. Paul in 1870). 

However, fortunes soon turned and it seemed unlikely the project would ever be finished. In time, several individuals stepped forward and oversaw its completion, thus establishing the first through, direct route to the Puget Sound. 

After 1900, fabled tycoon James J. Hill gained control and the NP joined his so-called "Hill Lines."  Today, the organization offers scenic train rides that last about 1.5-hours with charters available for large groups.

Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 #261

This famous locomotive partakes in excursions, sometimes ahead of Amtrak trains, throughout the Midwest annually.  Its home is Minneapolis where the big steamer is lovingly maintained by the Friends of the 261 group.  To learn more about the locomotive please visit the Friends' website by clicking here.

North Shore Scenic Railroad

The North Shore Scenic Railroad is part of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and is the state's most popular. The 26-mile route was originally part of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range and today the railroad hosts scenic train rides using both steam and diesel locomotives, along with featuring special trains and events throughout the season.  For more information please click here to visit the museum's listing.