Welcome to the Unofficial Twin Cities & Western Railroad Website      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. Contents What's New - What's changed lately on the website News - News and future plans about the TC&W About TC&W - General information about the TC&W Photographs - Photos of the TC&W and connecting railroads Operations - Detailed information about each train, including extras Railfanning - Information to help you successfully railfan the TC&W Timetables - The TC&W timetable and BNSF and CP timetables relevant to the TC&W. System Map - Detailed system map including descriptions for each station on the TC&W and MPL Locomotives - Detailed information about the locomotives the TC&W operates Rosters - Rosters for the TC&W, RRV&W and MPL. History - An attempt to cover what happened before July 27th, 1991 Interchange - Information about TC&W interchange points and the railroads themselves along with mini photo galleries. MPL - Information about TC&W's subsidiary, Minnesota Prairie Line (MPL) Videos - Videos that feature the TC&W and MPL Links - Links to other railroad related websites Site Map - One page displaying links to every other page Credits - About the author and people who have contributed. Thank you. Site Info Last updated: 04/06/08 This website was made by hand and I recommend viewing this site at 1280x800 in 16 or 32 bit color for proper display. If you have any comments, questions, corrections, contributions, etc. please e-mail me at MikeyB09@gmail.com Copyright 2008 Mike Bargmann All rights reserved. Photos for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image. This site and I are in no way connected with the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co., Minnesota Prairie Line Co. or Red River Valley & Western Railroad Co. All information posted on these pages was gained from individuals, e-mail lists, other web sites, or my own observations. Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited.

News A new customer comes     online in Glencoe. DPUs being used on BNSF     ethanol and coal trains The RaiRunner has finally     begun operations. The BNSF Power will now be     used on ethanol trains. The ILSX 1389 arrives     on the TC&W. BNSF power used to deliver     coal to Hopkins. RailMate, a RoadRailer type      technology tested between      Sacred Heart and Hopkins. HLCX GP38-2 moved from      Chaska and new pipe traffic      for a natural gas line. Update about the intermodel      runs into Shoreham. UP Power is used for the      first time on a DDG train.      Photos posted. New Power for the TC&W in      the form of a GP39-2 leased      from ILS (No. 1389). UP Power is to be used on      future DDG trains. RailRunner operations            began last month. Two Supply Trains have run     out of Shoreham for the     Northstar RailRunner project. Unit ethanol and DDG      trains start running 1/23/07. The TC&W has started      leasing a SW1200 for      switching at Winthrop North Star Rail Intermodal      LLC breaks ground for a      new intermodel facility Updates Last Update: 04/06/08 Added four photos to the Photographs Page. Past Updates