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.
St. Paul Union Depot trackage extended between Robert Street to the west, and Division Street to the east. West of Robert Street was the Milwaukee Road main line west to Minneapolis and beyond. Rock Island and Soo Line had trackage rights over this line, to access the Milwaukee Road station in Minneapolis. Chicago & North Western had trackage rights west to Chestnut Street, where its Mankato Subdivision diverged southwest towards Omaha. Milwaukee Road had trackage rights over this C&NW line to Mendota, where its own line diverged south to Owatonna, Austin and Calmar. Robert Street also was the junction of the Chicago Great Western main line south to Kansas City and Omaha. East of Division Street was a junction of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific lines, turning north, and a Burlington/Milwaukee Road paired track southeast towards Chicago. Amtrak continues to operate to Chicago, via the Milwaukee Road route. At Newport, the Rock Island line diverged south towards Burlington IA, and Des Moines and Kansas City. At Westminster Street, north of Division Street, the GN main line turned west towards Minneapolis, while diverging east was the Chicago & North Western line to Eau Claire and Chicago. The GN line was used by all railroads from St. Paul serving the GN station in Minneapolis. The NP line passed under the trackage at Westminster Street, and Soo Line had trackage rights over this NP line. At Trout Brook Jct., further north, the NP main line turned west towards Minneapolis. This line was not near the GN station in Minneapolis, and was and still is freight only. While diverging east was the Soo Line former Wisconsin Central line towards Chicago. A short distance west of Trout Brook Jct. was Soo Jct., where the Soo Line main line diverged north. Soo Line also had a freight bypass route north of the Twin Cities, serving Shoreham Yard. Northeast of St. Paul, Soo Line routes continued to Duluth and Sault Ste. Marie. From St. Anthony to Merriam Park is the Minnesota Commercial Railway, 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 (7 miles NW) - junction of GN main line, MC.
Merriam Park (6 miles W) - junction of CMSP&P main line, MC.
Mendota (6 miles S) - junction of C&NW, CMSP&P with trackage rights.
Chestnut Street (1 mile W) - junction of CMSP&P, C&NW with trackage rights.
Robert Street (1/2 mile W) - west end SPUD, connect with CMSP&P, CGW.
Division Street (1/2 mile E) - east end SPUD, connect with CMSP&P/CB&Q, GN, NP.
Newport (8 miles SE) - junction of CMSP&P/CB&Q, CRI&P with trackage rights.
St. Croix Tower (18 miles SE) - east end of CMSP&P/CB&Q paired track.
Westminster Street (1 mile N) - junction of GN, C&NW with trackage rights.
Trout Brook Jct. (2 miles N) - connection of NP main line with SOO WC line.
Soo Jct. (2 miles N) - connection of NP main line with SOO St. Paul line.
Cardigan Jct. (8 miles N) - junction of SOO St. Paul line, Shoreham freight line.
Dresser (44 miles NE) - junction of SOO lines to Sault Ste. Marie, Duluth.