Minnesota Prairie Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Minnesota Prairie Line | |
---|---|
Reporting marks | MPLI |
Locale | Minnesota |
Dates of operation | 2002– |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) |
Headquarters | Glencoe, Minnesota |
Minnesota Prairie Line (AAR reporting marks MPLI) is a railroad operating in the U.S. state of Minnesota which started operations in October 2002. Trackage includes the former Chicago and North Western Railway, prior to that the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway which extends from the a connection with owner Twin Cities and Western Railroad (TC&W) at a connection at Norwood to Hanley Falls, Minnesota, totaling 94 miles. Several companies including the Minnesota Valley Authority (MNVA) and the Minnesota Central Railroad (MCTA) operated the line the years prior to MPL taking over the line, both having little to no success.
When operations started in 2002, MPLI had two former Twin Cities and Western Railroad EMD GP10s, which had the MPLI logo applied to them on the long hood side. Currently, MPLI utilizes RRV&W Caterpillar Generation II locomotives (GP20Cs and GP15Cs). Trains typically run five days per week between Norwood and Wood Lake, Minnesota, with service as needed to Hanley Falls.