Duluth, Minnesota.

Regular readers know of my affection for historic railroads. If you are traveling to Duluth and enjoy train travel and the history of the railroads, you should consider an excursion on the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Another must-see stop is the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Ticket holders on a rail excursion get a discounted admission to the museum. Historic rail fans who don’t have time for the excursion should at least visit the museum. Most of the images in this post are views of museum exhibits.

The William Crooks featured in the opening photo is the first train engine to arrive in Minnesota. It belonged to the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. In 1862, the brand-new engine pulled its first load of passengers and it retired from service in 1897.

The Minnetonka was built in 1870 and was the first locomotive in operation on the Northern Pacific Railway. This workhorse started the Northern Pacific’s transcontinental railway construction and pulled the loads of rails and ties needed by the work crews to build the Northern Pacific. The engine is owned by Burlington Northern and is on loan to the museum.

The museum features some specialized rail equipment including this heavy-duty crane. As you walk through the museum, placards describe each of the exhibits. Some exhibits, like the U.S. Mail car in the background, allow guests to board and explore the interiors.

Inside the museum is a recreated Depot Square where you can step back in time over 110 years to 1910 where you can view storefronts that existed at the time. The recreated depot houses a model train exhibit.

The museum isn’t just about steam engines. After years of both railyard and passenger service, Engine 192 underwent a meticulous restoration, bringing it back into service as part of the North Shore Scenic Railroad. The diesel locomotive frequently pulls passenger cars along the scenic shores of Lake Superior, offering a glimpse into the more recent past. The rare design by General Motors was built in 1947 and is one of only 13 NW5 engines built by General Motors.

The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is located in the Duluth Union Depot which was built in 1892. You can find out more information about the museum here. In addition to the museum, the depot hosts other train-oriented venues including the Lake Shore Scenic Railroad depot.

The Duluth Zephyr Route was our excursion of choice, a 75-minute excursion through downtown Duluth, along the shoreline of Lake Superior, and through the historic Congdon Neighborhood wooded area. Excursions that go all the way to Two Harbors are also available. We opted to pay a little extra fare to ride in the dome car. Photographs I captured of the scenery didn’t turn out well, so if you want the best scenic photos, opt for a more open car so window reflections don’t get in your way.

A small snack and beverages are served in the dome car and longer routes have dinner service available. My lack of suitable photos notwithstanding, we really enjoyed the panoramic views and comfortable seating in the dome car. Halfway through our journey, the train is paused as the engine turns around for the return trip to Duluth.

The rail line operates summer excursions from May through Early October and offers a few special train rides in November and early December for the holiday season. As of this writing, the 2024 schedule hasn’t yet been published, but by the time this post is published, you will find their schedule on the North Shore Scenic Railroad website here.

The North Shore Scenic Railroad operates 28 miles (45 km) of the Lakefront Line, once part of the Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range Railroad. It’s a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the North Shore of Lake Superior and learn about the region’s railroad history.

John Steiner