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LUVERNE, Minn. – The Minnesota Southern Railway hopes to reopen the western end of its line following flooding which devastated the railroad last summer. Heavy rains struck the area in June, heavily damaging the railroad. No trains have reached the west end of the railroad where it connects with BNSF at Manley since June 14. Service on the east end resumed in early July.
Owner Brent Polanchek tells trains News Wire that he hopes to have the line reopened the first week of November. He had hoped the railroad would be open by the end of this month, but work has been delayed about a week because of problems with an excavating machine.
Minnesota Southern operates 41 miles of ex-Chicago & North Western track from a junction with the Union Pacific at Agate, three miles west of Worthington, to Manley, where it connects with BNSF. The short line has trackage rights from Agate to Worthington to interchange with UP.
When the line to Manley finally reopens, the railroad will be able to retrieve two SD40-2W diesels, which have been trapped on the west end. The pair, built in 1978, were acquired from Diesel Electric Services and are former Canadian National Nos. 5306 and 5309. The railroad plans to pull the two locomotives to its headquarters city of Luverne, where Minnesota Southern lettering will be applied and the units will be renumbered to 3000 and 3001. Polanchek said he plans to have the two units repainted in the former Great Northern Railway’s “Big Sky Blue” colors in the future.
The Buffalo Ridge Regional Rail Authority of Nobles and Rock counties own the railroad through the Buffalo Ridge Regional Rail Authority. It is leased and operated by Minnesota Southern. Among its largest customers are the Agri-Energy LLC ethanol plant in Luverne and a fertilizer plant in Magnolia. Last year the railroad signed an extended contract to operate the line for the next 20 to 25 years.
What will happen to the GP7 and GP9 they have been running until now?
its great to see that they are coming back and will hopefully grow in years to come.
When were the rails that would have connected Minnesota Southern and Ellis & Eastern at Sioux Falls pulled out? Too bad that isn't one united operation.