Mankato Subdivision

The Mankato Subdivision or Mankato Sub is a railway line operated by the Union Pacific Railroad. It runs generally southwest, starting at Chestnut Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where it crosses the Mississippi River, then runs south along the Mississippi and then the Minnesota River to Mankato, where it turns away from the river and continues west to St. James. From there Union Pacific's rails continue southwest toward Sioux City, Iowa, as the railroad's Worthington Subdivision.

Union Pacific Railroad
Mankato Subdivision
Canadian Pacific Railway
Merriam Park Subdivision
0.8 mi
 Chestnut Street
CP Merriam Park Sub
1.8
 Western Avenue
2.4
 Omaha Road Bridge
Mississippi River
 Lilydale
 Mendota
13.7
 Black Dog
 Burnsville
 Savage
Canadian Pacific MN&S Spur
Union Pacific Yard and connector
22.1
 Valley Park
28.2
 Shakopee
34.0
 Merriam
north to Chaska Industrial Lead
south to Montgomery Subdivision
 Jordan
46.5
 Belle Plaine
 Henderson Station
62.4
 Le Sueur
68.5
 Ottawa
77.5
 Kasota
81.4
 North Mankato
DM&E/CP Tracy Subdivision
85.5
 Mankato
88.3
 Land of Memories
DM&E/CP Tracy Subdivision
 Lake Crystal
 Madelia
120.9
 St. James
123.6
 West St. James
Worthington Subdivision

Connections

The rail line interchanges with the Canadian Pacific Railway's Merriam Park Subdivision at Chestnut Street in the north, and with CP subsidiary Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad in Mankato (Tracy Subdivision).[1] The Union Pacific Montgomery Subdivision and the defunct Chaska Industrial Lead begin at a point named Merriam between Jordan and Carver.[2][3]

Operation

The line is primarily dispatched via track warrant control, but also has automatic block signaling from the junction at Merriam to Mankato. North of Chestnut Street and farther into the Merriam Park Subdivision, trains use centralized traffic control. The general speed limit for freight trains on the line is 49 miles per hour (79 km/h), though many segments are restricted to lower speeds. The street running in Shakopee, Minnesota on 2nd Avenue East and West has a speed limit is 10mph.[4] There is no passenger service on the line, though any passenger excursions or business trains may operate up to 10 mph faster. As of 2003 the line between Saint Paul and Valley Park sees 6 freight trains daily, with 3 operating between Valley Park and Saint James.[5]

History

The Minnesota Valley Railway Company built from Mendota to Shakopee by 1865.[6][7] The railroad was extended to Belle Plaine by 1866 and Le Sueur by 1867. It reached St. Peter by 1868 and Mankato by 1869. At that time, it was renamed the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad. The predecessor of the Omaha Road Bridge Number 15 was completed over the Mississippi to extend the line to St. Paul.[6]

See also: Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway

This line became Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) trackage. The C. St. P. M. & O. then purchased the St. Paul and Sioux City in 1881.[8] The Omaha Road was part of the Chicago and North Western Railway. The Union Pacific acquired the C&NW.

References
  1. Don Winter. "Merriam Park to Chestnut Street". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  2. Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (January 2015). "Twin Cities Area Freight Railroad Map" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  3. Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (January 2015). "Minnesota Freight Railroad Map" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  4. STATE OF MINNESOTA IN COURT OF APPEALS C1-99-1722 In the Matter of the Speed Limit for the Union Pacific Railroad through the City of Shakopee, State of Minnesota. Filed May 16, 2000
  5. Union Pacific Tons per Train (PDF) (Map). Trains. 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  6. Stennett, William H.. Yesterday and Today: A History of the Chicago and North Western Railway System. United States: Winship Company, Printers, 1910.
  7. J W 1831-1917 Bishop (12 October 2018). History of the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad, 1864-188. Creative Media Partners, LLC. ISBN 978-0-342-66271-5.
  8. Donald R. Jr. Durbin (December 2000). The Bigger They Are... Writers Showcase. ISBN 978-0-595-15521-7.
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