BNSF, Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific are the main players in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. However, another Class One serves this area with a daily train. Canadian National operates a former Wisconsin Central train from Steven’s Point, Wisconsin and traverses the old Soo Line and WC route to Minneapolis. Once in the Twin Cities, this train is known as the CN transfer and its symbol is L506.It interchanges freight with the BNSF, Canadian Pacific and the Minnesota Commercial. In this show, we watch operations of L506 as it works the 20-mile line between Withrow and Minneapolis, which is Canadian Pacific’s Withrow Subdivision. Our coverage time period is between 2012 and 2019.
CN’s eclectic collection of motive power is pleasing to any rail enthusiast’s eyes and this train uses many of their locomotives including GE C44-9W’s, C40-8W’s, ES44 GEVO’s, C40-8’s and C40-8M’s, along with EMD SD70I’s, SD75I’s, SD70’s and SD60’s. Many of CN’s cowls were captured in CN and BC Rail paint before the railroad stored these locomotives in 2019. You will enjoy listening to these engines climb the 1% grade of Shoreham Hill and encounter the urban suburbs and outskirts of the northeastern Twin Cities Metro.
Winter, spring, summer and fall, this program has it all! Sit back and enjoy over two hours of great railroad entertainment in Canadian National’s L506!
