The Lakefront line is a stretch of track between Duluth, Minnesota and Two Harbors, Minnesota, a distance of about 30 miles. The stretch of track is where the North Shore Scenic Railroad operates today. Although it had its uses, it was initially built for no particular reason other than it was part of the incorporation papers that “Duluth” was in the title, an in order to build the line to haul Iron Ore, and get the land grants needed for it, the line to Duluth also had to be included.
In this video tour from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, we visit the line of the North Shore Scenic Railroad. For more videos visit: www.duluthtrains.com/youtube
Learn more about the “stealing of the railroad” story here: • Railroad Museum Tours ...
Train schedules and info can be found at: www.duluthtrains.com
In the early 1980s, changing economic trends and a sharp decline in business prompted the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway, a successor to the D&IR, to apply to the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon the Lakefront Line.
Members of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, which had formed in 1973 recognized the potential value of the scenic line as an opportunity to interpret history in a dynamic way.
To preserve the line, they lobbied successfully for the creation of the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Rail Authority, which purchased the twenty-seven mile railroad with a substantial grant from the State of Minnesota.
At a gala celebration held at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum on June 8, 1989, the Lakefront Line was renamed the “North Shore Scenic Railroad” and was officially dedicated by Governor Rudy Perpich. This significant event closed a century of commercial railroad history and dawned the new era of the non-profit attraction known as the North Shore Scenic Railroad that you are riding on today.
Since 1990, the North Shore Scenic Railroad has been providing unique, historic, and beautiful rail excursions here in Duluth. And… under the ownership of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum since 1996, every train ticket sold goes directly to supporting the Railroad Museum with the mission to Preserve, Interpret, and Present to the public, the history of railroading, especially as it relates to our area.