Western Railroad Discussion > Tell Me About Minneapolis/St Paul

I'll fly in to MSP in a couple weeks. Haven't been in the area for best part of 2 decades, so I'm looking for info.   Particularly the commuter system and shortlines and industrials.
How are the commuter trains oriented ? Locos facing downtown or not?   Any noteworthy venues?   
Ditto for shortlines and industrials.    
Will have a car and scanner.

Thx for any help.

Minnesota Commercial Railway https://www.mnnr.net/

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   508 Cleveland Ave N, St Paul, MN 55114;  © 2018 Minnesota Commercial Railway - All Rights Reserved.

Twin Cities & Western on the Ortinville Sub. of the former Western Extension of the Milwaukee RR
Twin Cities & Western



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/19 15:54 by 1-tnut.

Commuter engines face northbound, good place for the evening rush is the bridge up by Northtown yard (44th avenue northeast). Twin Cities & Western seems to come into Midway yard about 8-9 in the morning (Raymond ave bridge on west side of Midway yard good spot) before going down the hil to St. Paul. They head back out west after the main commuter rush is over (northeast Harrison street at the wye they wait till the next to the last one comes out unless they get done early). Minnesota Commercial has multiple jobs out of Midway yard you just have to find one and try to stick with it. I hope I helped you some I am sure there are many others on here with way better info than me.

Randy Allard

Are you planning on riding the North Star commuter trains in addition to photographing them?  If yes, and you plan to start your trip in Minneapolis, get to the station early.  The signage directing riders to the station at Target Field is unclear.  A friend, whom I  consider transit-savvy, missed riding the train because he could not figure it out.