North Shore Scenic Railroad
The North Shore Scenic Railroad (reporting mark NSSR) is a heritage railroad that operates between Duluth, Minnesota and Two Harbors, Minnesota, United States.
The railroad is owned by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (LSRM) and offers several different types of passenger excursion trains between May and December each year. The railroad started up in 1990, using the Lakefront Line once owned by the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway. DM&IR's successor, Canadian National, still has trackage rights over the line, but rarely uses them. The railroad operates several locomotives, notably Great Northern Railway EMD NW5 192, DM&IR EMD SD18 193, Budd Rail Diesel Car 9169, Soo Line EMD GP30 700, and Soo Line FP7 2500. Many steam locomotives have seen excursion service in one form or another. The first to operate was Duluth & Northern Minnesota 14, followed by Soo Line 1003 and Milwaukee Road 261, and (most recently) Soo Line 2719. The Duluth & Northeastern 28, a newly restored 2-8-0 Consolidation built in 1906 is now being used by the NSSR
Operating schedules
From May until December, the NSSR operates several daily excursions; following Labor Day, the NSSR reduces service to weekends-only.
The NSSR's premiere daily train is the Lester River, which runs from Duluth Union Depot to its namesake river. On weekends (Friday/Saturday/Sunday), the railroad runs a full 28-mile trip to Two Harbors, returning later in the day. From 2007 to 2013, Soo Line 2719 regularly operated August to late September, occasionally in October.
In preparation for the resumption of summer service, in May, the Lester River is replaced by the Lake Front Zephyr on the same route. The standard consist for the Lake Front Zephyr is an RDC. After Memorial Day, normal operations begin.
During summer evenings, a "Music and Pizza Train" travels along the Lakefront Line to Palmers, Minnesota before returning to Duluth.
Fall color excursions to Two Harbors begin in late September, and continue until late October. Late November through Christmas, special holiday trains run between Duluth Union Depot and Fitgers.
Special event trains
LSRM and NSSR operate several trains for special events, such as Grandma's Marathon, and will accept charters for private excursions. Since 2012 the North Shore Scenic Railroad has hosted "A Day out with Thomas", an excursion featuring a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine, on certain July and August weekends. As of 15 August 2015, the last steam excursion was in September 2013, when Soo Line 2719 operated for the last time under its 15-year FRA boiler certificate. Other special trains range from murder mystery trains to pumpkin patch trains to even beer-tasting trains.
Every year (typically mid-September), LSRM hosts a "Railfan Weekend," during which, most operable equipment is operated for tourists and railfans. This activity also includes photo charters of historic freight equipment, and some equipment is temporarily repainted with DM&IR lettering in honor of the rail line's former owner.
On occasion, the NSSR will run a special Streamliner,[1] featuring Soo Line 2500 and Erie Mining Company 4211 pulling the finest passenger cars of the LSRM's & NSSR's collection.
Duluth & Northeastern 28 has been restored to operation. After D&NE #28's FRA Boiler 15 year limit expires, Soo Line 2719 will be restored to operation and return to the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
Milwaukee Road 261 makes occasional visits to Duluth, during which some cars from its excursion train are joined with some of the LSRM's equipment for a dinner special.