Most of these railroads historically had numbered subdivisions. Lines on the map are usually identified using the historic division names, or the current subdivision names.
Great Northern Station
Great Northern operated this station in Minneapolis, along with a main line east to St. Paul. Also using the station were Burlington Route, Northern Pacific, Chicago Great Western, and Chicago & North Western, all of which had trackage rights over the GN line to St. Paul Union Depot, and operated trains which continued further east. NP had its own line between Minneapolis and St. Paul, but that line was not near the GN station in Minneapolis. Minneapolis & St. Louis also used the station, but did not serve St. Paul. GN, NP, and M&SL were the only railroads operating west of Minneapolis. All three of these railroads diverged at First Street North, west of the station. The Great Northern main line extended west via Wilmar to Fargo, and beyond to Seattle. A secondary GN main line to Fargo used a more northerly route via Monticello and St. Cloud. And a branch line existed southwest to Hutchinson. East of First Street North, an alternate GN line proceeded east via a more northerly route via Minneapolis Jct., and at University Switch rejoining the main line east to St. Paul. A line extended north of this alternate line from Minneapolis Jct. to Northtown, where it joined the NP main line for trackage rights. Diverging from the NP main line was the GN line to Duluth, and a GN branch to Milaca. Between 1975 and 1985, Amtrak operated over the line to Duluth. The NP main line extended northwest to Fargo, and beyond to Seattle. Amtrak continues to use this line, having discontinued service over the GN main line in 1979. On the M&SL, a junction existed at Hopkins, where lines split west to Watertown SD and south to Des Moines. At St. Anthony is presently a connection with Minnesota Commercial Railway (MC), used by Amtrak to access its Midway station which was used between 1978 and 2014. In 2014, Amtrak moved to the restored St. Paul Union Depot, but continued to use the same route via Midway station.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
St. Anthony (4 miles E) - junction of GN main line, MC.
University Switch (2 miles E) - junction of GN passenger and freight lines.
Minneapolis Jct. (1 mile NE) - junction of GN freight line with line to Northtown.
University (3 miles N) - junction of GN freight line with NP for trackage rights.
First Street North (W of Station) - junction of GN, NP, M&SL main lines.
Lyndale Jct. (2 miles SW) - junction of GN main line, Monticello line via St. Cloud.
Wayzata (14 miles W) - junction of GN main line, Hutchinson branch.
Northtown (5 miles N) - junction of NP passenger and freight lines.
Coon Creek (12 miles N) - junction of NP main line, GN Duluth line.
Elk River (30 miles NW) - junction of NP, GN Milaca branch with trackage rights.
Hopkins (8 miles SW) - junction of M&SL lines to Watertown, Des Moines.
Milwaukee Road Station
The Milwaukee Road station in Minneapolis was on a spur, connecting with the Milwaukee Road main line at Rand. During most of the station's history, only one daily through train operated each way, between Chicago and Tacoma. Also using the station was Rock Island and Soo Line. Both railroads had trackage rights over the Milwaukee Road east to St. Paul Union Depot, and operated trains which continued further east. Soo Line also had a line extending northwest to Portal, with connections into Canada via affiliated Canadian Pacific. This line presumably required a backup move at the station to 6th Avenue South, and trackage rights via NP north to 14th Avenue North. Soo Line also had a freight bypass route north of the Twin Cities, serving Shoreham Yard. At Merriam Park is presently a connection with Minnesota Commercial Railway (MC), used by Amtrak to access its Midway station which was used between 1978 and 2014. In 2014, Amtrak moved to the restored St. Paul Union Depot, but continued to use the same route via Midway station.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
Merriam Park (5 miles E) - junction of CMSP&P main line, MC.
Rand (2 miles SE) - junction of CMSP&P station spur and main line.
14th Avenue North (1 mile N) - junction of NP, SOO with trackage rights.
Camden (4 miles N) - junction of SOO Minneapolis line, Shoreham freight line.
Seventh Street Station
Seventh Street station in Minneapolis was used by Minneapolis Northfield & Southern, and by affiliated Minnesota Western west to Gluek, MN. The lines split at Glenwood Jct.