Trains in the Twin Cities in September 2003

I took these pictures in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the morning of September 6, 2003, while traveling on Amtrak’s eastbound Empire Builder. St. Paul was a highlight for me, as the Minnesota Commercial and Soo Line equipment visible from the train seemed exotic to an Oregonian like me.

Switching at Amtrak’s Midway Station in St. Paul during the Empire Builder’s service stop, Minnesota Commercial #83 is an 1,800-horsepower RS18u that was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in April 1958 as Canadian Pacific RS18 #8785. In 1987 it was rebuilt as RS18u #1837. On July 16, 1998, it was sold to Minnesota Commercial as #83.

Bringing up the rear of the Empire Builder, Amtrak Superliner I Sleeping Car #32009 was completed by Pullman-Standard on May 22, 1981. It was the last Superliner I and the last passenger car built by Pullman-Standard. As a result, it was named George M. Pullman in honor of Pullman-Standard’s founder in a ceremony at its completion, before being delivered to Amtrak in July 1981. It is one of only two Superliner I cars to have a name applied.

Parked at Midway Station, Amtrak (AMTZ) #462113 is a RoadRailer trailer built by the Wabash National Corporation. It is the 10,000th RoadRailer trailer built. RoadRailer trailers could be operated on rails without the use of flatcars, supported by a specialized railcar truck between trailers. Amtrak began purchasing RoadRailer trailers in May 1998 to carry mail and express shipments.

Minnesota Commercial #35 is a 2,000-horsepower M420W that was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in December 1976 as Canadian National #2574. It was renumbered to #3574 in 1986-1987. 

After being retired on February 5, 1998, it was sold to National Railway Equipment in Illinois in June 1998 and subsequently resold to Minnesota Commercial as #35.

Minnesota Commercial #35 is seen here alongside the Empire Builder's motive power.

Leading the Empire Builder, Amtrak P42DC #80 is a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in April 1997.

The Empire Builder's second unit, Amtrak P42DC #206 is a 4,250-horsepower P42DC that was built by General Electric in October 2001.

Also part of the Empire Builder's consist, Amtrak Superliner II Sightseer Lounge #33034 was built by Bombardier in 1993. It was involved in an accident in Nodaway, Iowa, in March 2001 and returned to service on August 27, 2003, as one of the first Superliner cars to wear Amtrak’s new paint scheme, with the new logo and red sill stripe.

Amtrak’s Empire Builder passes Minnesota Commercial’s nearby roundhouse in Minneapolis. Minnesota Commercial #68 is a 2,250-horsepower B23-7 that was built by General Electric in March 1979 as Conrail #1972. It was retired in 1999 and sold to the Quincy Bay Terminal, where it became #22. It was resold to the Minnesota Commercial Railway, where it became #68.

Minnesota Commercial #316 is a 2,400-horsepower RS-27 that was built by Alco Products in March 1962 as Chicago & North Western Railway #903. Only 27 examples of the RS-27 were produced; the Chicago & North Western owned four, which were returned to Alco in 1966 in trade for C-424s. Alco leased them to various railroads in 1967 and 1968. This unit was sold to the Green Bay & Western in 1968 and became #316. It was later joined by two of the others. On August 27, 1993, the Green Bay & Western was merged with the Fox River Valley Railroad to form the Fox River & Western, a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Central, and this locomotive was sold to the Minnesota Commercial Railroad.

Conrail #1998 is a 2,250-horsepower B23-7 that was built by General Electric in July 1979. It was retired by Conrail in 1999 and was sold to the Minnesota Commercial Railroad, but has yet to be placed in service and still wears full Conrail paint and lettering.

Conrail #2002 is another 2,250-horsepower B23-7 that was built by General Electric in August 1979. It was retired by Conrail in 1999 and was sold to the Minnesota Commercial Railroad, but has yet to be placed in service and still wears full Conrail paint and lettering.

Minnesota Commercial #80 is a 1,000-horsepower RS23 that was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in September 1959 as Canadian Pacific #8031. It was retired in March 1999 and ended up with the Minnesota Commercial as #80.

Northern States Power Company (NSPX) #501 is a 1,200-horsepower SW1200RS that was built by General Motors Diesel Limited in February 1956 as Canadian National #1576 and was renumbered by the end of the year to #1205. It was retired in 1991. It was acquired by the Northern States Power Company and was used at the High Bridge Generating Plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, where is it pictured here. This coal-fired power plant at 501 Shepard Road was completed in 1941.

Canadian Pacific #4611 is a 3,000-horsepower GP40 that was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in March 1966 as Milwaukee Road #180. In 1968 it was renumbered to Milwaukee Road #2025. The Soo Line purchased the bankrupt Milwaukee Road in February 1985, and this locomotive became Soo Line #2025. The Soo Line was consolidated into owner CP Rail in 1991, and in October 1997 it was rebuilt by Canadian Pacific and became Canadian Pacific #4611.