1. Home
 ›
2. Fallen Flags
 ›
3. Soo Line
 ›
4. Timetables (1952)

Soo Line Timetables (August, 1952)

Published: February 25, 2024

By: Adam Burns

Presented below is the Soo Line's public timetables from the August, 1952 issue of The Official Guide Of The Railways.  The company only provided modest passenger services and as such, its listing in the Guide was never extensive.

The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Saint Marie Railroad, colloquially known as the Soo Line, played an essential role in the transportation history of the American Midwest.

Incorporated in 1883, the Soo Line was so named because most of its mainline, running from Minneapolis to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, paralleled the south shore of Lake Superior, thus the "Soo" designation derived from the phonetic pronunciation of "Sault".

An amalgamation of smaller railway companies, the Soo Line found its niche servicing the agricultural industry, connecting farming communities to larger urban markets. In 1961, it consolidated with two other railroads to form the Soo Line Railroad Company, which became a dominant force in Midwestern freight transport.

The Soo Line experienced significant transitions throughout its history, with ownership changing via acquisitions by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1947 and 1990.

These acquisitions led to the Soo Line being absorbed into the Canadian Pacific system, with its moniker being relegated to a subsidiary role. Notwithstanding these changes, the Soo Line's legacy is still prevalent in the Midwest’s rail network, a testament to its significant impact on the region's transportation and economic history.

Public Timetables (August, 1952)