|
Welcome! My name is Mike Bargmann and this website is my attempt at comprehensively covering my local shortline, the TC&W.
The TC&W operates 229-miles of track and is classified as a shortline (Class III) railroad. Operating from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul across central Minnesota and 10.4 miles into South Dakota, the TC&W is largely an agricultural railroad. While agricultural products (corn, wheat, beans, grains, barely, etc.) are the main product moved, large amounts of ethanol, DDGs, coal, sugar, fertilizer, canned foods, limestone and other products are shipped as well.
The TC&W boasts one of the most unique locomotive fleets of any shortline. At the present time, a total of 14 locomotives are being used on the TC&W system including power for the Minnesota Prairie Line (MPL), a wholly owned subsidiary. A total of nine engines are powered with Caterpillar prime movers (GP20Cs, GP30Cs and GP15Cs) while four are EMD powered (two GP10s, GP39-2 and SW1200) plus one slug in a CF7 body. Two ex-NS slugs and an EMD powered ex-Reading & Northern CF7 are also stored at the railroads headquarters in Glencoe, MN.
The St. Paul Turn passes the site of the new Twins stadium. The days are numbered for this shot. July 16, 2007 - Minneapolis, MN
In this website I hope to focus on the operations of the TCW and make up to date news about the TCW available to the public. I also hope to cover the railfanning aspect, primarily photography. I will also feature the Minnesota Prairie Line (MPL) as well as surrounding railroad operations that interact with the TC&W.
I know how time consuming it can be to research anything railroad related on the internet with so much information in so many locations so I hope to make this website a one stop for anything TC&W related including some information about railroads in Minnesota.
Hope you enjoy the website and find it useful and informative. Thank you for stopping by and I hope your stay is a pleasurable one.
As I've always said, please don't hesitate to e-mail me with
questions, comments, suggestions, corrections, or anything else you can think of.
|