List of Minnesota railroads

The following railroads operate in the U.S. state of Minnesota.

Common freight carriers

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Private freight carriers

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Passenger carriers

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Defunct railroads

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Name Mark System[nb 1] From To Successor Notes
Albert Lea and Southern Railroad ALS IC 1899 1908 Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad
Austin and Mankato Railroad GN 1880 1881 St. Cloud, Mankato and Austin Railroad
Barnesville and Moorhead Railway BMR GN 1880 1880 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Bass Brook Railroad BBR 1889 1892 N/A
Big Fork and International Falls Railway BFIF NP 1908 1923 Northern Pacific Railway
Big Fork and Northern Railway BFN NP 1905 1942 Northern Pacific Railway
Brainerd and Northern Minnesota Railway BNMR NP 1892 1901 Minnesota and International Railway
Buffalo Ridge Railroad BFRR 1989 1992 Nobles Rock Railroad
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway BCRN RI 1876 1903 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway BNSF 1996 2005 BNSF Railway
Burlington Northern Inc. BN 1970 1981 Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad BN 1981 1996 Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Caledonia and Mississippi Railway CMRC MILW 1873 1880 Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad
Caledonia, Mississippi and Western Railroad CMWR MILW 1879 1880 Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad 3 ft Narrow Gauge
Canadian Northern Railway CN CN 1901 1923 Canadian National Railway
Cannon River Improvement Company CGW 1872 1878 Minnesota Central Railroad
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls and Northwestern Railway CRIN RI 1880 1902 Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway
Cedar Valley Railroad CVAR 1984 1991 Cedar River Railroad
Central Railroad of Minnesota CRCM MILW 1872 1879 Southern Minnesota Railway
Chatfield Railroad CHRC CNW 1878 1881 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Cherokee and Dakota Railroad CDRC IC 1887 1888 Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Northern Railroad CB&Q 1885 1899 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad CB&Q, CBQ CB&Q 1899 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway CB&Q 1901 1907 N/A Leased the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad CCDM MILW 1878 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Chicago and Dakota Railway CDRY CNW 1879 1881 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Chicago, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad CDMR MILW 1871 1877 Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad
Chicago Great Western Railroad CGW CGW 1909 1941 Chicago Great Western Railway
Chicago Great Western Railway CGW CGW 1940 1968 Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago Great Western Railway CGW CGW 1892 1909 Chicago Great Western Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway CMSP MILW 1874 1928 Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad MILW MILW 1928 1985 The Milwaukee Road, Inc.
Chicago and North Western Railway CNW CNW 1870 1972 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company CNW CNW 1972 1995 Union Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad RI, ROCK RI 1947 1980 Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway RI RI 1902 1948 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway CSPKC CGW 1886 1893 Chicago Great Western Railway
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway CMO CNW 1881 1972 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Cuyuna Iron Range Railway CIRR CP 1908 1910 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Cuyuna Northern Railway CNRC NP 1911 1914 Northern Pacific Railway
Dakota Rail, Inc. DAKR 1985 2000 N/A
Des Moines Valley Railway of Minnesota DMVR CNW 1899 1900 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad DMNR MILW 1877 1878 Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad
Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad DSCR IC 1888 1946 Illinois Central Railroad
Duluth Beltline
Duluth, Crookston and Northern Railroad DCNR NP 1889 1898 Northern Pacific Railway
Duluth, Glencoe and Southwestern Railway MILW 1888 1900 Duluth, St. Cloud, Glencoe and Mankato Railway
Duluth and Iron Range Railroad DIRR 1874 1938 Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Duluth and Manitoba Railroad DMR NP 1885 1898 Northern Pacific Railway
Duluth and Manitoba Railway NP 1884 1885 Duluth and Manitoba Railroad
Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway DM&N DMN 1891 1937 Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Duluth, Mississippi River and Northern Railroad DMRN GN 1892 1899 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Duluth and Northeastern Railroad DNE 1898 2002 Cloquet Terminal Railroad
Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railway DNM 1898 1923 N/A
Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg Railway DRLW CN 1905 1912 Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway
Duluth, Red Wing and Southern Railroad DRWS CGW 1886 1901 Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Duluth, St. Cloud, Glencoe and Mankato Railway DSCG MILW 1900 1910 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Duluth Short Line Railway DSLR NP 1886 1898 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad DSA CP 1949 1961 Soo Line Railroad
Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway DS&A, DSS&A, DSA CP 1949 Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad
Duluth and Superior Bridge Company DSB 1894 1901 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Duluth, Superior and Western Railway DSW GN 1896 1898 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Duluth Terminal Railway DTRC GN 1887 1928 Great Northern Railway
Duluth Transfer Railroad DTRR NP 1902 1902 Northern Pacific Railway
Duluth Transfer Railway DTRY NP 1890 1902 Duluth Transfer Railroad
Duluth Union Depot Company DUD NP 1889 1892 Duluth Union Depot and Transfer Company
Duluth Union Depot and Transfer Company DUDT NP 1892 N/A
Duluth, Virginia and Rainy Lake Railway DVRL CN 1901 1905 Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg Railway
Duluth and Winnipeg Railroad DWRC GN 1878 1896 Duluth, Superior and Western Railway
Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railroad CN 1909
Eastern Railway of Minnesota ERCM GN 1887 1907 Great Northern Railway
Electric Short Line Railroad ESLR CP 1908 1915 Electric Short Line Terminal Company
Electric Short Line Railway ESL MSTL 1908 1924 Minnesota Western Railroad
Electric Short Line Terminal Company ESLTC CP 1915 1956 Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway
Fargo and St. Louis Air Line Railroad MILW 1883 1883 Fargo and Southern Railway
Fargo and Southern Railway FSRC MILW 1883 1885 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Grantsburgh, Rush City and St. Cloud Railroad GRSC NP 1878 1899 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Great Northern Railway GN GN 1889 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
Green Bay and Minnesota Railroad GBM 1874 1881 Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul Railroad
Green Bay and Western Railroad GB&W, GBW 1896 1985 N/A
Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul Railroad GBWSP 1881 1896 Green Bay and Western Railroad
Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad G&LS 1902 1909 N/A
Hastings and Dakota Railway HD MILW 1867 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Hastings, Minnesota River and Red River of the North Railroad MILW 1857 1867 Hastings and Dakota Railway
Hill City Railway HCY 1915 1935 N/A
Illinois Central Railroad IC IC 1887 1972 Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
Illinois Central Gulf Railroad ICG 1972 1984 Cedar Valley Railroad
I&M Rail Link IMRL 1997 2002 Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
International Bridge and Terminal Company 1902 1910 Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway
Iowa Central Railway MSTL 1901 1912 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad
Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad ICE 2002 2008 Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern Railway CNW 1898 1900 Chicago and North Western Railway
Kettle River Railroad GN 1886 1893 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
LaCrosse, Trempealeau and Prescott Railroad CNW 1857 1877 Chicago and North Western Railway
Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad NP 1861 1877 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Lake Superior and South Western Railway GN 1885 1888 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Little Falls and Dakota Railroad NP 1879 1900 Northern Pacific Railway
Little Falls and Southern Railroad NP 1890 1899 Northern Pacific Railway
Mankato and New Ulm Railway CNW 1899 1900 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Mantorville Railway and Transfer Company CGW 1895 1896 Chicago Great Western Railway
Mason City and Fort Dodge Railroad CGW 1905 1940 Chicago Great Western Railroad
Mason City and Fort Dodge Railway CGW 1902 1905 Mason City and Fort Dodge Railroad
McGregor Western Railway MILW 1866 1867 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Mesabe Southern Railway 1894 N/A
The Milwaukee Road, Inc. MILW MILW 1985 1986 Soo Line Railroad
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway MILW 1867 1874 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railroad MA&C, MACR GN 1929
Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railway MA&C GN 1915 1929 Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railroad Freight service electrified in 1922
Minneapolis Belt Line Company GN 1917 1928 Great Northern Railway
Minneapolis and Cedar Valley Railroad MILW 1856 1860 Minneapolis, Faribault and Cedar Valley Railroad
Minneapolis and Duluth Railroad NP 1871 1881 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minneapolis Eastern Railway MINE CNW/ MILW 1878
Minneapolis, Faribault and Cedar Valley Railroad MILW 1862 1864 Minnesota Central Railway
Minneapolis Industrial Railway MIR MSTL 1959
Minneapolis, New Ulm and Southwestern Railroad MSTL 1895 1899 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad
Minneapolis and Northern Railway GN 1912 1915 Minneapolis, Anoka and Cuyuna Range Railway
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway MNS CP 1918 1986 Soo Line Railroad
Minneapolis and Northwestern Railroad GN 1878 1883 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Minneapolis and Pacific Railway CP 1884 1888 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Minneapolis and Rainy River Railway M&RR 1904 1932 N/A
Minneapolis, Red Lake and Manitoba Railway MRLM 1904 1938 N/A
Minneapolis, Rochester and Dubuque Traction Company CP 1907 Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company
Minneapolis and St. Cloud Railroad GN 1856 1889 Eastern Railway of Minnesota, Great Northern Railway, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Minneapolis and St. Croix Railway CP 1883 1888 Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway
Minnesota, St. Croix and Wisconsin Railroad CP 1884 1888 Wisconsin Central Company
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad MSTL 1894 1944 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway MSTL MSTL 1939 1960 Chicago and North Western Railway
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway MSTL 1870 1894 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company CP 1907 1918 Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad SOO 1944 1961 Soo Line Railroad
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway SOO CP 1888 1944 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad
Minneapolis and St. Paul Terminal Railway RI 1903 1904 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway CP 1886 1888 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Minneapolis Union Railway GN 1881 1907 Great Northern Railway
Minneapolis Western Railway GN 1884 1928 Great Northern Railway
Minnesota Belt Line Railway and Transfer Company CB&Q/ CGW/ CNW/ CP/ GN/ MILW/ MSTL/ NP/ RI 1887 1898 Minnesota Transfer Railway
Minnesota and Black Hills Railroad CNW 1879 1879 St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Minnesota Central Railroad MCTA 1994 2000 Minnesota Prairie Line, Inc.
Minnesota Central Railroad CGW 1857 1883 Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railway
Minnesota Central Railway MILW 1864 1870 McGregor Western Railway, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Minnesota and Dakota Northern Railroad GN 1879 1883 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Minnesota and Great Northern Railway GN 1904 1907 Great Northern Railway
Minnesota and International Railway MI NP 1900 1941 Northern Pacific Railway
Minnesota and Iowa Railway CNW 1898 1900 Chicago and North Western Railway
Minnesota and Manitoba Railroad CN 1899
Minnesota Midland Railway MILW 1876 1883 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Minnesota and North Wisconsin Railroad 1898 1912 N/A
Minnesota Northern Railroad NP 1878 1881 Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills Railroad
Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad CGW 1854 1887 Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway
Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad MILW 1857 1872 Central Railroad of Minnesota
Minnesota Northwestern Electric Railway 1913 1940 N/A
Minnesota and Ontario Bridge Company CN 1899
Minnesota and Pacific Railroad GN, MILW, NP 1857 1860 St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Minnesota Short Lines Company MSLC
Minnesota and South Dakota Railway CNW 1899 1900 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Minnesota Transfer Railway MTFR CB&Q/ CGW/ CNW/ CP/ GN/ MILW/ MSTL/ NP/ RI 1883 1987 Minnesota Commercial Railway
Minnesota Valley Railroad CNW 1864 1870 St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Minnesota Valley Railway CNW 1876 1881 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Minnesota Western Railroad MSTL 1924 1932 Minnesota Western Railway
Minnesota Western Railroad MSTL 1853 1870 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minnesota Western Railway MW MSTL 1932 1959 Minneapolis Industrial Railway
Minnesota Western Railway CNW 1901 1902 Chicago and North Western Railway
Mississippi, Hill City and Western Railway MH&W 1908 1915 Hill City Railway
MNVA Railroad MNVA 1984 1994 Minnesota Central Railroad
Moorhead and South Eastern Railway GN 1884 1891 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Nebraska and Lake Superior Railroad NP 1857 1861 Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad
Nobles Rock Railroad NRR 1994 2000 Minnesota Southern Railway
Northern Pacific Railroad NP 1864 1896 Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway NP NP 1896 1970 Burlington Northern Inc.
Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills Railroad NP 1881 1898 Northern Pacific Railway
Northwestern Coal Railway GN 1894 1899 Superior Belt Line and Terminal Railway
Park Rapids and Leech Lake Railway GN 1897 1907 Great Northern Railway
Plainview Railroad CNW 1877 1881 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway CN 1892 1915 N/A
Railway Transfer Company of the City of Minneapolis MSTL 1883 1984 Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
Red Lake Transportation Company 1897 1904 Minneapolis, Red Lake and Manitoba Railway
Red River and Lake of the Woods Railway GN 1882 1883 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Red River and Manitoba Railroad GN 1877 1879 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Red River Valley Railroad GN 1875 1879 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Rochester and Northern Minnesota Railway CNW 1877 1881 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Root River Valley and Southern Minnesota Railroad MILW 1855 1857 Southern Minnesota Railroad
St. Cloud and Lake Traverse Railway GN 1880 1880 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
St. Cloud, Mankato and Austin Railroad GN 1865 1886 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
St. Croix Railway and Improvement Company CNW 1872 1873 St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad
St. Paul Bridge and Terminal Railway SPB CGW 1908
St. Paul and Chicago Railway MILW 1867 1872 Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
St. Paul and Dakota Railroad CNW 1876 1878 Worthington and Sioux Falls Railroad
St. Paul and Duluth Railroad NP 1877 1900 Northern Pacific Railway
St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway GN 1879 1907 Great Northern Railway
St. Paul and Northern Pacific Railway NP 1883 1896 Northern Pacific Railway
St. Paul and Pacific Railroad GN, MILW, NP 1862 1879 St. Paul and Chicago Railway, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, Western Railroad of Minnesota
St. Paul and St. Croix Railroad CP 1884 1884 Minnesota, St. Croix and Wisconsin Railroad
St. Paul and St. Croix Falls Railway CP 1885 1888 Minnesota, St. Croix and Wisconsin Railroad
St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad CNW 1870 1881 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
St. Paul, Stillwater and Taylors Falls Railroad CNW 1869 1880 St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
St. Paul Terminal and Transfer Company RI 1902 1903 Minneapolis and St. Paul Terminal Railway
St. Paul Union Depot Company SPUD CB&Q/ CGW/ CNW/ CP/ GN/ MILW/ MSTL/ NP/ RI 1879
Sauk Center Northern Railway GN 1881 1883 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad CNW 1866 1879 St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
South St. Paul Belt Railroad RI 1889 1903 Minneapolis and St. Paul Terminal Railway
Southern Minnesota Railroad MILW 1857 1877 Minnesota Valley Railroad, Southern Minnesota Railway
Southern Minnesota Railway MILW 1877 1880 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Southern Minnesota Railway Extension Company MILW 1878 1880 Southern Minnesota Railway
Spirit Lake Transfer Railway 1907 1937 Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway
Stillwater and Hastings Railway MILW 1880 1882 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway
Stillwater and St. Paul Railroad NP 1867 1899 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Stillwater Street Railway and Transfer Company NP 1878 1881 Union Depot, Street Railway and Transfer Company of Stillwater
Stillwater Union Depot and Transfer Company NP 1888 1896 Union Depot and Transfer Company of Stillwater
Superior Belt Line and Terminal Railway GN 1899 1900 Eastern Railway of Minnesota
Superior Belt Line and Terminal Railway GN 1891 1894 Northwestern Coal Railway
Superior Short Line Railway CNW 1885 1895 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Superior Terminal and Belt Line Railway GN 1890 1891 Superior Belt Line and Terminal Railway
Taylors Falls and Lake Superior Railroad NP 1875 1898 St. Paul and Duluth Railroad
Transit Railroad CNW 1855 1860 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Union Depot, Street Railway and Transfer Company of Stillwater NP 1881 1888 Stillwater Union Depot and Transfer Company
Union Depot and Transfer Company of Stillwater NP 1896 1902 Northern Pacific Railway
Wadena and Park Rapids Railroad GN 1883 1891 St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway
Watonwan Valley Railway CNW 1899 1899 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Western Railroad of Minnesota NP 1874 1883 St. Paul and Northern Pacific Railway
Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway GN 1886 1907 Great Northern Railway
Winona Bridge Railway CB&Q 1890 1985 N/A
Winona and La Crosse Railroad CGW 1856 1872 Winona and Southwestern Railway
Winona, Mankato and New Ulm Railway CNW 1870 1880 Winona and St. Peter Railroad
Winona and St. Peter Railroad CNW 1862 1900 Chicago and North Western Railway
Winona and Southwestern Railway CGW 1872 1894 Winona and Western Railway
Winona and Western Railway CGW 1894 1901 Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Wisconsin Central Company CP 1888 1899 Wisconsin Central Railway
Wisconsin Central Railroad CP 1954 1961 Soo Line Railroad
Wisconsin Central Railway CP 1897 1954 Wisconsin Central Railroad
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad CGW 1894 1920 Chicago Great Western Railroad
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railway CGW 1883 1894 Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
Worthington and Sioux Falls Railroad CNW 1878 1879 St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Electric
Private

Notes

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  1. ^ This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.

References

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  • Hilton, George W. (1990). American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-2369-9.