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North Shore Scenic Railroad

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North Shore Scenic Railroad - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Ride the Duluth River Train

The Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company (LS&M) is incorporated as a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Company.

Opening June 22

Ticket office & depot: 6930 fremont st duluth, mn, departures: sat & sun - 10:30 am & 1:30 pm.

• Children $10
• Kids Ages 3 and Under Ride Free!
• Veterans RIDE FREE on Sundays

General seating. Group rates for 10 or more people. Our antique coaches are not wheelchair accessible.

Take a ride and hear the stories of the st louis river estuary..

Are you ready to experience Duluth in a brand-new way? It’s time to get onboard the Duluth River Train. With views of the St Louis River estuary and Spirit Mountain, this historic railroad has been a popular way to see the estuary since 1980. Seeing the fall colors from the train should be on your bucket-list!   

Become a Volunteer

We are a completely volunteer run organization, and are always looking for new volunteers to help keep this train rolling.

Rails & Trails

Our rail excursion is only one way to experience the St. Louis River Estuary. Check out our Choo Choo Paddle Shuttle for the National Water Trail. Coming soon will be the Waabizheshikana: Marten Trail, too.

Please let us answer your questions.

Come onboard in '24!

Veterans & Active Military ride free on Sundays.

General seating.

Our antique coaches are not wheelchair accessible.

Video View of Causeway from the water

Have questions reach out, follow us on facebook, take part in our 2024 givemn fundraiser to raise funds for the upgrade., come onboard in '24 we are excited to continue telling the stories of the st louis river and sharing the spectacular views and our historic river train with you.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad Statement of Non-Discrimination & Inclusiveness

In keeping with the LS&M’s mission to share the early history of the railroad and the rich nature of the St. Louis River, the LS&M strives to provide an inclusive environment which respects the value of each individual, whether they are volunteers, passengers or the general public. LS&M leaders recognize and appreciate diverse perspectives for group decisions to achieve effective collaborative compromise.

Volunteer assignments will be made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, public assistance status, disability and familial status. Given the safety and regulation driven nature of the railroad industry, equal access will be allowed to potential railroad volunteers to perform preferred tasks for which they are able to meet Federal Railroad Administration requirements.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad © 2024 All rights reserved.

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Ride the Train to Two Harbors

Choose the ‘Two Harbors Turn’ and ride the rails from downtown Duluth to the waterfront in Two Harbors. Hop off, have lunch, shop and board for the return trip.

Operates summer weekend leaving at 10 am and returning late afternoon.

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The 10 Best Scenic Train Rides in Minnesota

• Updated April 27, 2022

If you’re anything like me, you might secretly be a railroad nerd.

Something about the idyllic throwback to yesteryear, traveling the beautiful countryside via train, makes for a totally bucket-list-worthy trip idea.

If you want to explore Minnesota in a way that will make your friends jealous and your grandparents proud, I found the most dreamy way to do just that.

These 10 scenic train rides in Minnesota are exactly what the doctor ordered.

Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway

Dresser pumpkin express, north shore scenic railroad – the zephyr route, north shore scenic railroad – music & pizza trains, north shore scenic railroad – the two harbors turn, lake superior & mississippi railroad, friends of the 261, como-harriet streetcar line, excelsior streetcar line, amtrak empire builder.

Ask any serious railfan about the most scenic railway trip in Minnesota, and chances are they’ll point you in the direction of the Osceola/St. Croix Valley Railway tours operated by the Minnesota Transportation Museum.

Departing from Osceola, Wisconsin, just across the border from Stillwater, the 1 ½ hour train route then travels along the scenic St. Croix National Scenic Riverway to Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.

These tours are exceptional in the fall during peak color season. A good option for all ages.

• Season:  April to mid-October
• Fare: $25 for adults, $17 for children – discount packages for 4, 5, and 6 riders
• Departs: 114 Depot Road, Osceola, WI 54020.
• Website: Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway

The Minnesota Transportation Museum hosts a ride on the Fall Pumpkin Express train every fall.

Riders of all ages board the train in Osceola, Wisconsin, for a short 25-minute train ride to nearby Dresser. Hop off there and into the pumpkin patch to choose a pumpkin to take home. Enjoy music, a hayride, food, and games at the patch before departing back for the station in Osceola.

• Season:  October
• Fare: $30 for adults, $25 for children
• Departs: 114 Depot Road, Osceola, WI 54020
• Website: Pumpkin Express Train

One of the most popular train rides in Minnesota, Duluth’s North Shore Scenic Railroad company offers this 75-minute historic route through downtown Duluth and up the North Shore of Lake Superior. Take in the scenic views from their first-class Skyview Dome Car, which offers panoramic views and seat-side snack and beverage service.

A great tour for all ages, and one of the most popular tourist activities in Duluth.

• Fare: Coach & First Class Rates Vary
• Departs: 506 West Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55812
• Website: North Shore Scenic Railroad

If the standard scenic train ride seems a bit low-key, try out one of the other North Shore Scenic Railroad offerings. Their weekend music and pizza train schedule offers some extra perks that you won’t find anywhere else on the list. Each passenger receives a fresh 8″ personal pizza and pop when you board the 2 ½ hour train ride along the North Shore.

On the way up, the route is narrated to include some of Duluth and Lake Superior’s rail and natural history. Then, head to the concessions car to enjoy live music from a local band on the way home.

• Season:  weekends only – Summer & Fall

For riders who want an option for a lunch and shopping date, the North Shore Scenic Railroad also provides a longer full-day excursion on the Two Harbors Turn route.

This six-hour trip departs from downtown Duluth and travels the historic rail line along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior to Two Harbors. Stop there for a layover for lunch and explore the shops downtown before hopping back on the train to return to Duluth.

• Season:  July to mid-October

The Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad (LS&M) built the first railroad in Duluth in the 1870s. The current LS&M reserves 5.2 miles of this original railroad right-of-way into Duluth to operate vintage railroad equipment from the early to mid 19th century.

The 2-hour route travels south out of Duluth about 6 miles and returns on the same track. In the fall, this is one of the best leaf viewing train rides in the entire Upper Midwest.

• Season:  mid-June to mid-October
• Fare: $20 adults, $10 children
• Departs: 6930 Fremont Street, Duluth, MN 55807
• Website: Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad

In 1991, railroad enthusiasts and hobby collectors from around the Twin Cities got together to support the operation of Milwaukee Road 261 , a steam locomotive based in Minneapolis that was nearing its end. Since then, what has grown is a bustling non-profit organization that owns a fleet of passenger cars, with most of them painted in Milwaukee Road maroon and orange passenger train colors that travel with the 261.

Today, the organization runs various scenic and historic railroad trips year-round. During the holiday season, the North Pole Express departs from the St. Paul Union Depot and is one of their most popular rides.

Scenic train rides change here from season to season based on volunteers and interest, so check their website for the most current information about upcoming events.

• Season: Year-Round
• Departs: Various routes – the train often departs from St. Paul Union Depot
• Website: Friends of the 261

At one time, the streetcar was the easiest way to move about Minneapolis and St. Paul, with dozens of trolly lines zig-zagging across the city. Unfortunately, by the 1950s, nearly all of the existing streetcar track was gone.

Today, the Minnesota Streetcar Museum still operates the Como-Harriet historic streetcar tour to commemorate this bygone transportation era, with a 15-minute ride in a fully restored streetcar. The train runs between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet throughout the summer. Not the longest or the most scenic on this list, but for a train-loving toddler, it makes for a good summer activity.

• Season:  end of April to end of August
• Fare: One ride: $3 per person, children 3 and under ride free – Day Pass: $7 for rides all day.
• Departs: 2330 West 42nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
• Website: Como Harriet Streetcar

Along with the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, the Minnesota Streetcar Museum also operates a half-mile historic streetcar ride at the Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka Historical Society’s Museum.

The Excelsior Streetcar Line runs on the former right-of-way of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway and gives travelers a chance to see what public transportation looked like over 100 years ago in Minnesota.

• Departs: near the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society Museum 305 Water St, Excelsior, MN 55331
• Website: Excelsior Streetcar Line

Although the other train rides on this list all fall into the historic or novelty category, there is one existing commuter rail trip worth checking out in Minnesota. The Amtrak Empire Builder route travels across Minnesota with stops in Winona, Staples, St. Paul, St. Cloud, Red Wing, and Detroit Lakes. So hop on in the Twin Cities and take the train to Red Wing and back.

Or, for some of the best scenery you’ll find in the US, take the Empire Builder west to destinations like Glacier National Park, Seattle, and Portland.

• Season:  Year-round
• Fare:  Depends on Destination
• Departs: St. Paul Union Depot
• Website: Amtrak Empire Builder Train

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