TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

An Inventory of Its Railroad Abandonment Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Government Records

Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator:Minnesota. Department of Transportation.
Title:Railroad abandonment records.
Dates:1972-1996.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:The files include copies of railroad applications to abandon sections of track; Interstate Commerce Commission [ICC] legal instruments; Transportation Department written comments on abandonment applications; correspondence between the department and the ICC, other state agencies, businesses, and other interested parties; and miscellaneous items including news releases, photographs, and occasional hearings transcripts. Rail systems most heavily represented are Burlington Northern, Chicago and North Western, the Milwaukee Road, and the Soo Line.
Quantity:10.6 cubic feet (11 boxes).
Location: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseSCOPE AND CONTENTS

Also included are two non-abandonment files concerning the Rock Island Railroad reorganization (1975) and Chicago and Northwestern Railway trackage rights (1975-1976), subject files relating to rail abandonments and related matters, and abandonment summaries (1972-1996).


Return to top

Expand/CollapseARRANGEMENT

The collection is organized in the following sections:

Abandonment Files (in overlapping series)
1972-1978
1976-1980
1977-1984
1978-1987
1972-1978
Non-abandonment Files
Subject Files
Abandonment Summaries


Return to top

Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Railroad Abandonment Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Provenance:

These files were initially kept by the Public Service Department and then by various administrative units of the Transportation Department. Some were received from the state attorney general's office, and were transferred to this series if not connected with litigation activity.

Accession Information:

Accession number(s): 984-173; 985-91; 985-167; 989-142; 989-232; 990-111; 2009-41

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 001710174


Return to top

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Expand/CollapseABANDONMENT FILES

Arranged alphabetically by name of the first town in a rail section title. The A docket numbers were assigned by the Public Service Commission; the AB finance docket numbers were assigned by the Interstate Commerce Commission [ICC]. Each file may include copies of railroad applications for abandonment of sections of track, ICC legal instruments, Transportation Department comments, hearing transcripts, opposition statement by the Public Service Commission, news releases, photographs, and correspondence between the Transportation Department and the ICC, other state agencies, businesses, citizens and other rail constituents.


Expand/Collapse 1972-1978

Location
104.I.17.6FAlbert Lea-Lake Mills, Iowa, AB-l, Sub. No. 12, Chicago and North Western, 1973.
Alborn-Pengilly, AB-IO, Sub. No. 1, Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range, 1976.
Blue Earth-Elmore, A-8449, Chicago and North Western, 1974-1975.
Fairmont-Truman, A-8460, Chicago and North Western, 1974-1975.
Fairmont-Welcome, A-8475, Milwaukee Road, 1974-1976.
Farmington, Grade Crossing Abandonment, Milwaukee Road, 1973.
Hayfield-Austin, A-8377, Chicago and North Western, 1972-1973. 2 folders.
Civil Action No. 3-73-213, Hollandale-Rock Island and Hollandale-Maple Island (Minnesota Public Service Department v Interstate Commerce Commission and Milwaukee Road), 1973.
Minnesota challenged the ICC's approval of Milwaukee Road's abandonment applications for the two sections; these records reflect the court action.
Isinours Junction-Caledonia, A-8374, Milwaukee Road, 1972-1976.
Includes photographs.
Little Rock, Iowa-Rock Rapids, Iowa, including Ellsworth, Minnesota, A-8463, Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific, 1974-1976.
Lake Crystal-Winnebago, AB-l, Sub. No. 20, Chicago and North Western, 1976-1978.
Long Prairie, A-8420, Burlington Northern, 1975-1976.
Burlington Northern v Public Service Commission; Burlington Northern sued the Commission to prohibit it from holding a hearing concerning the reestablishment of agency service to Long Prairie.
Minneapolis-Fridley, AB-66, Minneapolis, Anoka, and Cuyuna, 1972-1973.
Location
104.I.17.7BRiverside Junction-New Duluth, AB-6, Sub. No. 30, Burlington Northern, 1975.
St. Clair, Freeborn County-St. Clair, Blue Earth County, AB-7, Sub. No. 8, Milwaukee Road, 1976.
Sanborn-Wanda, AB-l, Sub. No. 48, Burlington Northern, 1975-1976.
Sauk Centre-Long Prairie, A-8411, Burlington Northern, 1974-1976.
Wrenshall-Superior, Wisconsin, AB-6, Sub. No. 8, and AB-7, Sub. No. 5, Burlington Northern, 1973.

Expand/Collapse 1976-1980

Location
126.K.16.1BStewartville-McIntyre, Iowa, Chicago North Western.
7th St. Yard, Soo Line.
Includes photographs and negatives of the site.
St. Clair Junction-Pemberton, Milwaukee Road.
St. Clair-St. Clair Junction, Milwaukee Road.
Marshall-Vesta, Chicago North Western.
Hinckley-Moose Lake, Burlington Northern.
Fairmont-Truman, Chicago North Western.
Minnesota Lake-Mankato, Milwaukee Road.
Little Rock-Rock Rapids, Rock Island.
Dundas-Faribault, Chicago North Western.
Clarks Grove-Maple Island, Rock Island.
Battle Lake-Henning, Burlington Northern.
Cologne-Shakopee, Milwaukee Road.
Includes photographs.
Funkley-Kelliher, Burlington Northern.
Jackson-Egan, South Dakota, Milwaukee Road.
Includes photographs.
Location
126.K.16.2FLake Crystal-Winnebago, Chicago North Western.
Ormsby-Estherville, Chicago North Western.
Winona-Durand, Milwaukee Road.
Winona-Tunnel City, Chicago North Western.
Waterville-Morristown, Chicago North Western.
Sanborn-Wanda, Chicago North Western.
Waltham-Austin, Chicago North Western.
Winnebago Elevator Case, Chicago North Western.
Rochester-Stewartville, Chicago North Western.
Gary-Tracy, Chicago North Western.
Location
126.K.16.3BSt. James-Hanska, Chicago North Western.
Heron Lake-Lake Wilson, Chicago North Western.
Faribault-Zumbrota, Milwaukee Road.
Currie-Bingham Lake, Chicago North Western.
Farmington-Benning, Milwaukee Road.
Foxhome-Breckenridge, Burlington Northern.
Farmington-Shakopee, Milwaukee Road.

Expand/Collapse 1977-1984

Location
127.B.14.7BBarnesville-Downer, AB-6, Sub. No. 95F, Burlington Northern, 1981-1982.
Camp Riley Junction-Brainerd, AB-6, Sub. No. 94F, Burlington Northern, 1981.
Cannon Falls-Red Wing, AB-l, Sub. No. 128, Milwaukee Road, 1977-1982.
Embarrass-Winton, AB-1OI, Sub. No. 3, Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range, 1982.
Fergus Falls-Pelican Rapids, AB-6, Sub. No. 57F, Burlington Northern, 1978-1980.
Jordan-Sawbill Landing, AB-1Ol, Sub. No. 4, Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range, 1982.
Key West-Carthage Junction, Burlington Northern, Milwaukee Road, 1982.
La Crescent-Ramsey, AB-7, Sub. No. 58, Milwaukee Road, 1977-1980.
Monticello-Clearwater, Finance Docket No. 29855, Burlington Northern, 1982.
Moose Lake-Carlton, AB-6, Sub. No. 58, Burlington Northern, 1978-1980.
Location
127.B.14.8FNorthfield-Dundas, AB-l, Sub. No. 127F, Chicago and North Western, 1981.
North St. Paul-Carnelian Junction, AB-57, Sub. No. 6, Soo Line, 1977-1980.
Norwood-Hopkins, AB-l, Sub. No. 91F, Chicago and North Western, 1978-1980.
Norwood-Madison, AB-l, Sub. No. 142, Chicago and North Western, 1982-1984. 2 folders.
Ortonville-Fargo Branch Line, AB-7, Sub. No. 68F, Milwaukee Road, 1978-1980. 2 folders.
Includes color photographs.
Location
127.B.14.9BOrtonville-Miles City, Montana, AB-7, Sub. No. 97F, Milwaukee Road, 1977-1981. 2 folders.
Randolph-Oelwein, Iowa, AB-l, Sub. No. 113F, Chicago and North Western, 1981.
St. Croix Junction-Bayport, AB-7, Sub. No. 45, Milwaukee Road, 1977-1979.
Starbuck-Villard, AB-6, Sub. No. 67F, Burlington Northern, 1979-1981.
Trout Brook Junction-Oakdale, AB-57, Sub. No. 11, Soo Line, 1981-1982.
White Bear Lake-Stillwater, AB-6, Sub. No. 20F, Burlington Northern, 1982.
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range abandonments [general], 1976-1981.
Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific abandonments [general], 1977.

Expand/Collapse 1978-1987

Location
103.I.13.10FAromac Mine Spur, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Austin-Calmar, Iowa, Milwaukee Road, 1978-1983.
Austin-Manley, Iowa, Milwaukee Road, 1980-1981.
Hoot Lake-Battle Lake, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Hopkins Junction-Hopkins, Burlington Northern, 1984.
Minneapolis Local, Soo Line, 1986.
Minneapolis Station, Soo Line, 1987.
Montgomery-Waseca, Chicago and Northwestern, 1984.
Moose Lake-Schley, Soo Line, 1986-1987.
Red Lake Falls-St. Hilaire, Burlington Northern, 1985.
Rogers-Monticello, Burlington Northern, 1982.
Roseport-Randolph, Chicago and Northwestern, 1984.
St. Clair Junction-Chisholm, Burlington Northern, 1983.
St. Cloud-Clearwater, Burlington Northern, 1983.
St. Cloud-Mora, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Starbuck-Morris, Burlington Northern, 1980-1983.
Tioga Mine Spur, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Ulen-Fertile, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Wadena-Long Prairie, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Wadena-Park Rapids, Burlington Northern, 1983.
Wayzata-Hutchinson, Burlington Northern, 1984-1985.
Worthington-Lismore, Rock Island, 1979-1980.

Expand/Collapse 1972-1978

All cases involve the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company.
Location
103.I.13.11BBingham Lake-Currie, AB-l, Sub. No. 53, 1976-1978.
Heron Lake-Lake Wilson, AB-l, Sub. No. 35, 1974-1976. 7 folders.
Heron Lake-Lake Wilson, AB-l, Sub. No. 59, 1977-1978. 7 folders.
Lake Crystal-Winnebago, AB-l, Sub. No. 57, 1977.
Sleepy Eye-Redwood Falls, AB-l, Sub. No. 50, 1977-1980. 5 folders.
Location
103.I.13.12FStewartville -McIntyre, Iowa, AB-l, Sub. No. 19, 1974-1976. 7 folders.
Winnebago Farmers Elevator Co. v Chicago and North West Transport Company, 1977-1978.

Return to top

Expand/CollapseNON-ABANDONMENT FILES

Location
104.I.17.7BWinona-Tunnel City, Wisconsin, Chicago and North Western, 1975.
Approval of trackage rights agreement.
Rock Island Railroad Reorganization, 1975-1976.

Return to top

Expand/CollapseSUBJECT FILES

Location
104.I.17.7BAbandonments [general], 1972-1974.
Governor's Railroad Abandonment Committee, 1972.
Rail abandonment reports, 1975-1976, 1978-1979. 3 folders.
Status sheets of pending railroad abandonments, Special Assistant Attorney General for the Public Service Commission.
Rail Transportation Study, 1975.
Reports, correspondence, and miscellaneous papers primarily concerning railroad abandonments.
[box is part empty]

Return to top

Expand/CollapseABANDONMENT SUMMARIES

Summary information regarding railroad abandonments in Minnesota, including decisions, certificates and orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission, maps, and correspondence. Arranged in reverse chronological order.


Location
103.I.13.12F 1972-1976. 4 folders.

Return to top

Expand/CollapseCATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:
Railroads -- Minnesota -- Photographs.
Railroads -- Minnesota -- Abandonment.
Organizations:
Burlington Northern Railroad Company.
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company.
Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad Company (1948- )
Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company.
Minnesota. Attorney General.
Minnesota. Department of Public Service.
Soo Line Railroad Company.
United States. Interstate Commerce Commission.
Document Types:
Photographs -- Minnesota.

Return to top

To search within this finding aid,
expand all and use 'ctrl+f' (PC)
or 'cmd+f' (Mac)

Overview
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Administrative Info
Detailed Description
Catalog Headings
Finding Aids, A-Z
New Finding Aids
Search Library & Archives Catalog
Search Collections
Library FAQ
Copy Services
Research Services
Take-Down Procedure
Library Facebook
Collections Management Toolkit