North Shore Scenic Railroad
 A long and colorful train in Two Harbors, MN... Awaiting the return of Soo Line 2719  The route of the North Shore Scenic Railroad between Duluth and Two Harbors |
The North Shore Scenic Railroad (reporting mark NSSR) is a heritage railroad that operates between Duluth, Minnesota and Two Harbors, Minnesota, USA.
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 this line, but rarely uses them. The railroad uses 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. It currently has no operational steam locomotives on its roster. 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, most recently was Soo Line 2719. The next locomotive to operate under steam is Duluth & Northeastern 28, it is expected to have its restoration complete by 2016.
Operating schedules
From May until December, the "NSSR" operates several daily excursions during the summer, while just weekend operation after Labor Day.
In May, the "Lester River Train" is replaced by the "Lake Front Zephyr" which normally just runs a RDC unit up to near the Lester River. After Memorial Day, normal operations begin.
The most common daily train is the "Lester River Train" which runs from Union Depot in Duluth to the Lester River. The railroad runs a weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) trip that goes the full 28 mile trip to Two Harbors, returning later in the day. From 2007 to 2013, Steam Locomotive Soo Line 2719 operated regularly from August until late September, though occasionally in October.
During the evenings, a "Music and Pizza Train" travels along the Lakefront Line to Palmers, Minnesota, then returning to Duluth.
Fall color excursions to Two Harbors begin in late September, and continue until late October. Then late November through Christmas, There are special holiday trains that run between Duluth Union Depot and Fitgers.
Special event trains
LSRM and NSSR operate several trains for special events, such as Grandma's Marathon. They also charter private excursions. Since 2012 the North Shore Scenic Railroad hosted "A Day out with Thomas", during which a life sized Thomas the Tank Engine operated on the North Shore during several weekends in July and August. The last steam excursion was in September 2013, in which 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, even beer tasting trains.
Every year (usually in Mid-September) LSRM hosts a "Railfan Weekend" where most operable equipment is operated as a show to tourists and railfans. This includes photo charters of historic freight equipment as well. Some equipment are temporarily transformed into DM&IR lettering in honor of the railroad that once owned the line.
On occasion a special "Streamliner"[1] train is operated featuring Soo Line 2500 and Erie Mining Company 4211 pulling the finest passenger cars of the LSRM's & NSSR's collection.
Duluth & Northeastern 28 is being restored to operation and is expected to be completed in 2016. After D&NE #28's FRA Boiler 15 year limit expires, Soo Line 2719 is expected to 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 it's excursion train are joined with some of the LSRM's equipment for a dinner special.