Twin Cities Hotspots

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

I hope to be visiting Minneapolis and St. Paul area in early July. I was wondering what are some good spots to see some rail action. I am also especially interested in seeing the Minnesota Commercial in action. When do they usually run their trains especially with the ALCO's. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Keith Schmidt
www.geocities.com/kaschmidt626/index.html
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[Anonymous]

Hey Keith. There are alot of good hot spots in the Twin Cities, but I would say the best spot to see the most trains is Hoffman Ave. There have to be over 100 trains a day between all the road freights, transfers and locals. Amtrak also comes through here at about 8am and 10pm depending on if it's ahead or late. BNSF,UP,CP Rail,Minnesota Commercial and Amtrak can all be seen from this one location although Minnesota Commercial only runs a couple trains through there a day. Theres a nice parking lot right in front of all the action, although the CP Rail people have kind of been breaking down on people parking there as of late since they own the lot. Theres another public parking spot about a 1/2 mile east that isn't quite as good, but still allows you to see most the trains, except the UP trains run behind you. Some other good spots on the east side would be Newport or if your looking for nice scenery try Prescott for BNSF or Hastings for CP Rail(not as many trains in these spots(CP Rail about 25 a day and 40 for BNSF), both have really nice draw bridges on the Mississippi and are about 10-15 minutes outside of Newport. If you really want to see those alcos from Minnesota Commercial head over around Midway where the Amtrak station is located. MC does all the switching for Amtrak so you might see them there, otherwise about a mile south of the Amtrak station is MC's engine facility where you can always see a couple alcos. MC's yard is about just north of the amtrak station where you can normally see the switching, but theres not really a good spot to sit to see it. Some good spots on the west side I would say is Midway stadium( you can sit in the St Paul Saints parking lot as long as there's not a game going on and witness trains on both sides of you with BNSF's Midway intermodal terminal on the south side to see as well when theres no trains) Northtown yard and Coon Creek are some other nice spots. Hope this helps and hope you enjoy your stay in the Twin Cities. Love the citie, but the weather sucks, by July it should be mid 90's with 100% humidity. Have fun Any question let me know and I will try to answer them for you.

[kschmidt]

Thanks Jim,

That info will help alot. Tell me about the weather. Being from Milwaukee it can get the same way. This summer I just wish we could get above 60. But the natural air conditioner (Lake Michigan) seems to be working overtime.

Thanks again
Keith

[Anonymous]

Hi Keith,
For Alco's 1st Try the Minnesota Commercial engine house on Cleveland Ave about 3/4 miles south of Amtrak's Midway station. Pre 9/11 you could during the day go into the office attached on north side of engine house & sign a release, then take all the pictures you wanted. Not sure if this is still possible. There is a baking Co back lot (parking lot just across the tracks from the engine house) good for morning shots. Also Mn Comm does the switching for CP in the old Hiawatha milling district in South Minneapolis. This often gets an alco engine. This line is off HIawatha Ave south of Lake St. Down at the very end of this line you have the old tiny CM&STP Minnehaha Depot & Minnehaha falls.
Also be sure the check out the folks at the Minnesota Jct engine house, home of the 261. This is located about 3/4 mile NE of downtown Mpls, off E. Hennepin & left turn onto Harrison.(engine house is right in middle of the wye) Folks there have been real friendly in the past.
Also a real good spot to watch BNSF trains in afternoon is in back of a paper co. bldg off University Ave about 1 mile N of downtown Mpls. Do not remember name of cross st, but it is turn off to right heading north just before University goes overBNSF tracks. Word to the wise BNSF has an extremely active police force, DO NOT go onto their property OR CROSS TRACKS.
Also used to be able to photograph UP trains from the employee parking lot at South St Paul engine terminal. DO NOT CROSS TRACKS, used to get permission from Yardmaster in office bldg.
Hope this is some help, have not been up in Twin Cities since late 2000, so possibly some things have changed. First answer to your query was correct. Hoffman Ave/Dayton's Bluff is the very best single site in Twin Cities. Would suggest it could make the list of one of the top 10 sites in the USA. Good shooting.
Bob from Racine

[Anonymous]

The weather is not that different compared to Milwaukee so you shouldn't have to worry. I didn't know where you were coming from. Uncle lives in Milwaukee and we visted there once in July. Only difference was humidity wasn't quite as bad as here in the Twin Cities. That's what sucks about 10,000+ lakes. Have fun while your here. If you have any other questions, I can try and answer them. Bob gave you good directions to the different sites so you should have everything you need.

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

Thanks again for all of the information on the Twin Cities. I just have one question. When you mention Hoffman Ave as the best spot. Is there a cross street close to the parking lot you are talking about. That way I can get a better idea of where it is.

Thanks in advance.
Keith

[Anonymous]

I took the Empire Builder from Minot Nd to Twin Cities and Pulling in to i believe it was the midway yard it had CP BNSFsurrounding the train then a UP train waiting on a diamond and then i saw MNNR alco's with Baggage cars it was great first time i have seen a M636 and RS18u ex-cp's working the yard since CP retired and sold them all. Then went 4 years later and it was great I seen 8 BNSF 4 CP in a short period of time.
If u are a railfan go to the twin cities for a variety of action such as BNSF CP UP CN TCW MNNR Progressive railroad industrial railroad and i was wondering do u know any good twin cities websites