Minnesota Zephyr facts for kids
The Minnesota Zephyr was a special train that offered dinner trips in Stillwater, Minnesota. It was like a moving restaurant where people could enjoy a fancy five-course meal while traveling slowly along a six-mile track. The train moved between four and seven miles per hour, giving passengers plenty of time to see the sights.
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What Was the Minnesota Zephyr?
The Minnesota Zephyr was known as a heritage railroad or a dinner train. This means it was a historic train that offered a unique dining experience. It had five special dining cars that were restored to look beautiful inside. Each car offered a white linen dinner, making the meal feel very elegant.
How the Train Operated
The train was powered by two EMD FP7 locomotives, which are types of train engines. There was one engine at each end of the train. This allowed the train to easily change direction without needing to turn around. The route followed the beautiful bluffs along the St. Croix River before turning west to follow a stream. The entire trip lasted about three and a half hours.
Why the Train Stopped Running
On September 18, 2008, the owner, David Paradeau, announced that the Minnesota Zephyr would stop operating at the end of that year. He decided to retire, and the business had also faced some financial difficulties. For example, it had lost $1.6 million in the two years before it closed.
What Happened to the Tracks?
The owner hoped to sell the train's tracks, also known as the right of way, to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The idea was to turn the tracks into a rail trail. A rail trail is a path for walking and biking that is built on old railroad lines. This new trail would connect Stillwater to the Gateway State Trail system. The Minnesota Zephyr had been running for about 23 years and had served almost a million people before it closed.
The History of the Railroad Line
The railroad line used by the Minnesota Zephyr was the very first one built into Stillwater. Work on the tracks began in 1870 but stopped in December because the ground became too frozen. The last mile of track was finally laid in the spring of 1871 after the ground thawed.
Later Years of the Track
Before the 1890s, two more rail lines were built into Stillwater from the south. The last freight train from the Burlington Northern left Stillwater on this line in 1982. After that, the line was mostly used by the Minnesota Zephyr. In 2005, tracks connecting the Zephyr line to the Union Pacific Railroad through downtown Stillwater were removed. No regular train service had used these tracks since 1995.
The Tracks Become a Trail
In September 2010, the Minnesota DNR showed new interest in buying the Minnesota Zephyr's tracks. In February 2012, the sale of the right-of-way to the DNR was completed for $4.37 million. This sale did not include the dinner train itself (the engines and cars) or the Zephyr building.
Building the New Trail
After the sale, the old rails and wooden ties were removed to prepare the path for the new walking and biking trail. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources paved the entire route. It starts from downtown Stillwater and connects to the Gateway State Trail. The DNR also built a new bridge for walkers and cyclists over Manning Avenue (County Road 15). The trail officially opened in June 2015. This old railroad path is also being considered for a future light rail line into Stillwater.
Where Are the Train Cars Now?
In early 2013, a company called Iowa Pacific Holdings bought the Minnesota Zephyr train. They planned to use it for their Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in Colorado. In March 2013, the dining cars were shipped by rail to Colorado for repairs and updates. In November 2014, it was announced that Iowa Pacific had also bought the two FP locomotives, and they were moved in December.
The Zephyr's Legacy Today
Today, the old rail line has been turned into the Brown's Creek State Bike Trail. The old train depot building in downtown Stillwater is now a live performance theater. It is called The Zephyr Theatre, keeping the history of the train alive.
