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North Shore Scenic Railroad
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About North Shore Scenic Railroad
The North Shore Scenic Railroad glides along a 28‑mile Lake Superior corridor between Duluth and Two Harbors, departing from the historic St. Louis County Depot. Vintage diesel locomotives pull restored passenger cars through pine‑lined bluffs, offering panoramic views of the shoreline and frequent stops at scenic points such as the Lester River. Daily excursions run May through December, with specialty pizza, brewery and fall‑color trips adding culinary and seasonal flavor to the historic ride.
History
The Lakefront Line that the North Shore Scenic Railroad now uses was first built in 1886, when a one‑mile extension of the St. Paul and Duluth Railway linked the Duluth and Iron Range Railway to downtown Duluth. The heritage operation itself launches in 1990, founded by former Duluth, Mesabi & Iron Range Railway executive Donald Shank, who ran the railroad for a single season with county and private funds. In 1991 the Goldfine family assumed control, operating the line as a for‑profit venture for five seasons. By 1996 the Lake Superior Railroad Museum took over ownership and management, converting the service to a volunteer‑driven nonprofit. Ridership reached a record 110,000 passengers in 2018, the highest annual total recorded for the railroad.
The Trains
The North Shore Scenic Railroad runs a 28‑mile (45 km) standard‑gauge line between Duluth and Two Harbors along the historic Lakefront Line, operating out of the former Duluth Union Depot now known as the St. Louis County Depot. Its roster includes Great Northern Railway EMD NW5 #192, DM&IR EMD SD18 #193, Budd Rail‑Diesel Car #9169, Soo Line EMD GP30 #700, Soo Line EMD FP7 #2500, and a collection of steam engines such as Duluth & Northern Minnesota #14, Soo Line #1003, Milwaukee Road #261, Soo Line #2719, plus the restored Duluth & Northeastern 2‑8‑0 Consolidation #28 built in 1906.
Nearby
Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Railroad sits just 5 mi from the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad, with the Two Harbors Duluth and Iron Range Depot Museum about 26 mi away.
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