Photo by Boston Public Library, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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About Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad
Riding the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad offers a scenic excursion along the Saint Louis River north of Duluth, Minnesota, tracing the historic right‑of‑way laid in the 19th century. Vintage equipment pulls passenger cars through forested river valleys, delivering views of water, cliffs and distant hills while the line follows the path of the original Lake Superior and Mississippi link. In 2003 the St. Paul Pioneer Press named the service the “Best Train Ride.”
History
The Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad originates in 1863 when financier Jay Cooke designates Duluth as the northern terminus of a new line, and local businessman Lyman Dayton contributes $10,000 for the initial survey and serves as president until his death in 1865, after which Philadelphia banker Frank Hamilton Clark assumes the presidency. Construction finishes in 1870, the line reaches Duluth through Carlton, and on August 1 1870 the first passenger trains run between the Twin Cities and Duluth; the railroad operates as a freight and passenger carrier until 1877. The Panic of 1873 strains Cooke’s finances, leading the LS&M to reorganize in 1877 as the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad, which later becomes part of the Northern Pacific Railway. After a long dormancy, volunteers of the Lake Superior Transportation Club reincorporate the name in 1981, launching a heritage excursion service that follows much of the original right‑of‑way. In 2003 the St. Paul Pioneer Press names the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad the “Best Train Ride.”
The Trains
The railroad is restoring Locomotive 46 and refurbishing its Safari Car, pulling vintage passenger coaches on the two-hour run along the Saint Louis River near Duluth.
Nearby
Minnesota's Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad runs just 5 mi from the North Shore Scenic Railroad, with the Two Harbors Duluth and Iron Range Depot Museum about 32 mi out.
Where to Stay
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Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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More in Minnesota
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