Minot and Soo Tower: Then and Now

HemiAdda2d Feb 21, 2020

  1. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I post a lot of photos from Soo Tower in Minot, ND. It's a fairly busy spot where the BNSF KO, Devils Lake and Glasgow Subs terminate, as well as an at-grade crossing with the CP Portal Sub. It's hard to find photos of Minot from before the actual tower at the interlocking was razed, but I found some. A GN railroader named Robert Bye graciously allowed me to post his photo of GN train 4, The Dakotan, resting in Minot in 1964.

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    We see there's 3 tracks near the station, today there's only 2. East of Broadway Bridge, one can see evidence of an additional track. The third track seen seems to be the end of a siding, and today is gone.
    The tower is prominent in the background in this west-facing view of an eastbound train. The semaphores stand where the signal bridge is today.

    As I find more photos, I'll post them here.
     
  2. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another gem from Robert Bye, posted with permission. GN train 27 leaves Minot westbound; looking west from atop Soo Tower.

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    The interlocking plant here hasn't changed much in several decades, other than the homes on the hill are different and additional businesses have been added.
     
  3. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is really cool Hemi! Neat to see the differences.
     
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  4. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, GREAT pictures. (y) Thanks for taking the time to get permission to post them.

    Those EJ&E hoppers are interesting too and are a long way from home.
     
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  5. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have a distinct lack of shots to directly compare to these, but I'll do my best to show the "now" views.

    Soo Tower today is the 2 main track on BNSF, CP Portal; Sub mainline and an interchange track between the 2 companies. Additionally, a set of crossovers on BNSF west of the junction survives today, although I don't have photos of it in use.

    Starting from the west and moving east, the crossovers and signal west of the junction:

    L-R: BNSF MT2, BNSF MT1, (CP Portal main crosses diagonally), interchange track. The BNSF units are on the interchange track.

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  6. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    A slightly different view has Amtrak 7 waiting for departure; the CP main is easier to see.

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  7. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Moving east, from the Minot Public Library parking lot, one can get nice views of action on both BNSF and CP.
    Here, a BNSF eastbound manifest rolls up to the diamonds in a rain storm.

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    Looking east, a BNSF stacker crosses the diamonds under the signal bridge where the semaphores and searchlites once stood.

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  8. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The glint of last light makes the track arrangement clear to see in this west-facing view.

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    A little further east is the Amtrak tation parking lot, another safe, public place to watch the action. An eastbound stack hammers the diamonds at first light:

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  9. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That tall steel tower in the background stands directly in front of the tower proper, as seen in the first photo. From the north side of the track, a BNSF local heads west. The toolboxes sit where the tower foundation once was, but it has long been removed:

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    The imposing structure in the background is Minot Public Library. The windows overlook the diamonds!

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  10. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Continuing east is the Amtrak station, originally built by GN. This view faces east on a westbound train 7.

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    The third track in the opening photo is long removed, leaving only 2 main tracks and one station platform.

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  11. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    From the north side of the track, separated by a deteriorating fence and treeline, one can see a different vantage point on the elegant station.

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    On the longest days of the year, and when Amtrak train 8 is on time, one can see the eastbound Empire Builder in daylight. This view is near Broadway Bridge.

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  12. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Great pics Hemi, thanks!!(y)(y)(y)
     
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  13. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I visited the Railroad Museum of Minot yesterday and found a group of historical photos of this area. Stay tuned!
     
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  14. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Before we dig into the historical photos from the museum collection, note the track arrangement. This track map from 1922 shows 3 tracks near the GN station, a Soo Line spur near their depot and a GN lunch room as well. The west end of old yard and locomotive shop trackage is shown in the upper right. I assume the lunch room was a pre-RR dining car installation, similar to ATSF Harvey Houses? When were dining cars standard on passenger trains? Railroad Museum of Minot collection, used with permission.

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  15. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ok, with the track plan in mind, her's a good starting point. GN depot and lunch room, from what is now Broadway Bridge, looking west. The GN main is just out of frame to the right, Soo Tower stands tall in the background, and freight cars rest on the Soo Line interchange track. Photographer unknown, Railroad Museum of Minot collection, used with permission.

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    In this mid-1910s view, the GN mains, depot and old highway bridge approach ramp can be seen. Additionally, the west end of the old yard and locomotive shops track are seen. Gavin Yard east of Minot didn't replace the old yard until the 1950s. Photographer unknown, Railroad Museum of Minot collection, used with permission.

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  16. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    At the bottom of the diagram it looks the interlocking machine bars are illustrated, with their indents and cams, placed to prevent conflicting movements through the plant. VERY cool. I've never seen anything like that before. (y)
     
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  17. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was wondering what that diagram was for, and had an inkling it applied to the interlocking, but had no prior knowledge of what such an illustration would look like. Thanks for confirming that for me!
     
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  18. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Great pics!
     
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  19. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Let's fast-forward the clock a bit, to 1947. In this C.R. Adams photo of the Oriental Limited at the Minot platform facing east, we see the platform seems to be dirt--the paved platform seen in the Bye photo above is yet to be installed, and the brick herringbone platform that peeks out from under the gravel and asphalt today seems yet to come as well. The tall stacks in the background belong to the steam loco shops.

    Photographer: C.R. Adams, 1947. Railroad Museum of Minot collection, used with permission.

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    Herringbone bricks in 2019:

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  20. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Great Dome pride of the GN rolls west in this 1966 view. The tower is prominent off to the right while the photographer captures the Soo Line main and interchange track clearly. Photographer unknown, Railroad Museum of Minot collection, used with permission.

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    Another 1966 view shows an eastbound train 28 at Soo Tower in morning light. The 1966-built, new Minot Public Library appears in this view off to the extreme left. Also of note is the fuel plug, pole lines, the tall steel tower and semaphores.

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