M&STL PASSENGER SERVICE

[NP Eddie]

My name is Ed Burns and am a retired NP-BN-BNSF Clerk from Minneapolis and an ATCS host in Anoka, Minnesota.

 

This post should be easier than the previous two posts I submitted.

 

What passenger station in St. Paul, Minnesota did the Minneapolis and St. Louis use when they had passenger service? The last MSTL passenger train came off in 1960.

 

Ed Burns

[e-mail]

[jrbernier]

Ed,

  IIRC, those 'last' M&StL passenger trains were 'doodlebug' trains that ran out of Cedar Lake west through Minnesota.  St Paul service may have ended before WWII. I have seen a 1947 train listing for SPUD and I did not see anything for the 'Louie'.  I have heard that there may have been connecting service via the NP to the M&StL between SPUD and Mpls - But have have no idea where any 'cross-platform' transfer may have happened in Mpls.    The NP signal department in St Paul was actually in bldg's that were the M&StL freight house at one time.

Jim

[aricat]

[Deggesty]

According to the January, 1930, issue of The Guide, the M&StL used the Union Depot in St. Paul. The February,1950, issue, shows that the GN depot in Minneapolis was used, so there was a transfer at this station, and GN schedules between the two cities are shown. Cross-platform? it does not say.

[wjstix]

AFAIK the M-St.L always used the GN Minneapolis station. It appears for some time they used trackage rights over NP or GN to reach SPUD from Minneapolis, but eventually terminated trains in Minneapolis. Keep in mind by c.1948 M-St.L passenger service was an ancient doodlebug with a stainless steel coach.

[KCSfan]

Official Guides for 1937 and 1954 contain the following note. "M&StL passenger service terminates at Minneapolis. Passengers are handled between St. Paul and Minneapolis via connecting trains of other lines." The same OG's indicate the M&StL used the Union Depot in Minneapolis.

Mark

[KCSfan]

I should have added to my last reply that Union Depot in this time period was the name associated with the GN station in Minneapolis.

Mark

[wjstix]

Both the Great Northern and the Milwaukee Road depots in Minneapolis hosted trains from other railroads. For example CNW/CMO used the GN depot, Rock Island used the Milwaukee depot (and reached it via trackage rights over the Milwaukee from St.Paul.)