Lake Superior Railroad Museum facts for kids
The museum is housed at the Duluth Depot
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| Established | 1973 |
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| Location | 506 W. Michigan St., Duluth, Minnesota |
| Type | Railroad museum |
| Public transit access |  DTA |
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is a cool place in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It's a railroad museum where you can learn all about trains!
The museum first opened its doors in 1973. It focuses on the history of trains and railroads in the area around Lake Superior. You'll find it inside the beautiful, old Duluth Depot complex, which has been carefully restored.
Besides the museum, they also run the North Shore Scenic Railroad. This railroad offers fun train rides from late May through mid-October. They use real historic trains from the museum's collection for these trips!
The museum has some amazing trains. One is the William Crooks, which was the very first train to run in Minnesota way back in 1861. Another giant is the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Number 227. This "Yellowstone" locomotive was one of the biggest steam engines ever built!
You can even rent out some of the museum's spaces for special events.
Contents
Amazing Trains and Equipment
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum has a huge collection of trains. Let's explore some of the different types you can see!
Powerful Steam Locomotives
Steam locomotives are old-fashioned trains that run on steam power. They are big, noisy, and super cool!
- Duluth Missabe & Iron Range #227: This massive "Yellowstone" locomotive was built in 1941. It's one of the largest steam engines ever made and is now on static display.
- Duluth & Northeastern #28: This "Consolidation" type locomotive was built in 1908. It's still operational, meaning it can run!
- Northern Pacific #1 "Minnetonka": This small but mighty steam engine was built in 1870. It's on static display.
- St. Paul & Pacific #1 "Wm Crooks": This "American" type locomotive was built in 1861. It holds a special place in history as the first train to operate in Minnesota. It's on static display.
- Soo Line #2719: This "Pacific" type locomotive was built in 1923. It's currently waiting for a big repair job.
Electric Locomotives and Trams
Electric locomotives get their power from electricity, often from overhead lines or a third rail.
- Hanna Ore Mining Co. #307: This electric locomotive was built in 1928 and is on static display.
- Milwaukee Road #10200: This large electric locomotive was built in 1915 and is now on static display.
- Lisbon Tramway Co. #530: This electric trolley car was built in 1925. It's operational, so it can still move!
Modern Diesel Locomotives
Diesel locomotives use diesel engines to power generators, which then drive electric motors. They are the most common type of train today.
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe #1550: This EMD SD9 locomotive was built in 1954 and is operational.
- Duluth Missabe & Iron Range #193: This EMD SD-18 locomotive was built in 1960 and is operational.
- Erie Mining Co. #4211: This EMD F9A locomotive was built in 1956 and is operational.
- Great Northern #192: This EMD NW5 locomotive was built in 1947 and is operational.
- Northern Pacific #245: This EMD GP9 locomotive was built in 1956 and is operational.
- Soo Line #2500: This EMD FP7-A locomotive was built in 1949 and is operational.
Special Diesel Railcars
Diesel railcars are like self-powered passenger cars. They don't need a separate locomotive to pull them.
- Alaska Railroad #712: This Budd RDC-2 railcar was built in 1951 and is operational.
- Chicago & North Western #9934: This Budd RDC-1 railcar was built in 1950 and is operational. It's painted to look like North Shore Scenic Railroad #9169.
Passenger Cars for Your Ride
The museum also has many different passenger cars. These are the cars where people sit during a train journey.
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #551 "Sky View": This car has a full dome, offering amazing views! It's operational.
- Chicago & North Western #51: This is a bi-level coach, meaning it has two levels for passengers. It's operational.
- Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy #250 "Silver Club": This car also has a cool Vista Dome for sightseeing. It's operational.
- Duluth & Iron Range #19: This coach car is on display in the museum's gallery.
- Great Northern #1250 "Lake of the Isles": This car is a diner, where you can eat meals on the train. It's operational.
- Northern Pacific #390 "Rainier Club": This is an observation car, usually at the very end of the train, with large windows for viewing the scenery. It's operational.
Cabooses and Other Cool Equipment
Cabooses are special cars at the end of freight trains, used by the train crew. The museum has several, including:
- Burlington Northern #12410
- Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range #C-9
- Great Northern #X-452
- Soo Line #1
The museum also has other unique equipment:
- Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow #2: Built in 1887, this is the oldest working rotary snow plow in the world! It was designed to clear huge amounts of snow from the tracks. It's a very important piece of history.
- 1920 McGiffert log loader: This machine was used to load logs onto trains.
Images for kids
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Duluth Missabe & Iron Range #227
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Duluth & Northeastern #28
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Duluth & Northern Minnesota #14
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Minnesota Steel Co. #7
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Northern Pacific #1 "Minnetonka"
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Northern Pacific #2435
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Soo Line #2719
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St. Paul & Pacific #1 "Wm Crooks"
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Hanna Ore Mining Co. #307
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Milwaukee Road #10200
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Lisbon Tramway Co. #530
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Burlington Northern Santa Fe #1550
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Copper Range #200
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Defence Plant Corp. #1309
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Duluth Missabe & Iron Range #193
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Duluth South Shore & Atlantic #101
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Erie Mining Co. #4211
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Erie Mining Co. #4222
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Erie Mining Co. #7243
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Fegles Construction Co. #171007
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Great Northern #192
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Great Northern #400
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Minneapolis Northfield & Southern #11
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Minnesota Power & Light Co.
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Northern Pacific #245
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Northern Pacific #3617
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Oliver Iron Mining #900
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Soo Line #320
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Soo Line #700
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Soo Line #2500
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Alaska #712
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Chicago & North Western #9934
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