View source for Minnesota Transportation Museum

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox museum
| name             = Minnesota Transportation Museum
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| image            = File:Foyer, Minnesota Transportation Museum-02.jpg
| imagesize        = 
| caption          = Displays in the Jackson Street Roundhouse
| alt              = 
| map_type         = 
| map_caption      = 
| map_alt          = 
| coordinates      = {{coord|44|57|45|N|93|5|46|W|display=inline,title}}
| established      = {{Start date|1962}}
| dissolved        = 
| location         = [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
| type             = Transportation museum
| collection       = 
| visitors         = 
| director         = 
| president        = 
| curator          = 
| publictransit    = 
| car_park         = 
| network          = 
| website          = http://www.transportationmuseum.org/
}}
The '''Minnesota Transportation Museum''' ('''MTM''', [[reporting mark]] '''MNTX'''<ref>[[Railinc]], [https://www.railinc.com/findusrail/pub/mark/search.do?fwd=init Search MARKs], accessed September 2009</ref>) is a [[transportation museum]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], United States.

MTM operates several heritage transportation sites in [[Minnesota]] and one in [[Wisconsin]]. The museum is actively involved in preserving local railroad, bus, and streetcar history.

MTM was formed in 1962 to save a [[streetcar]] that had been built and operated by [[Twin City Rapid Transit]] (TCRT) in [[Minneapolis–St. Paul]].  Many of the museum's early members were formerly part of the '''Minnesota Railfans Association''', which had organized [[railfan]] trips from the 1940s to the 1960s.

In 2004&ndash;2005, the organization's streetcar operations became the [[Minnesota Streetcar Museum]], with the [[steamboat]] ''Minnehaha'', originally built by TCRT in a style similar to its streetcars, becoming a major attraction of the [[Museum of Lake Minnetonka]].

== Minnehaha Depot ==
[[File:Minnehaha Depot.jpg|thumb|right|The Minnehaha Depot in [[Minnehaha Park (Minneapolis)|Minnehaha Park]]]]
After the first streetcar, TCRT {{Abbr|No.|number}}&nbsp;1300, was successfully restored, other projects were examined in the time before the streetcar could be put on its own set of rails.

The '''Minnehaha Depot''' was a former [[Milwaukee Road]] depot at [[Minnehaha Falls]]. The station, built in 1875, was nicknamed "The Princess" because of its delicate [[architecture]].  The depot is a [[contributing property]] to the [[Minnehaha Historic District]]. Trains running on special routes have sometimes stopped at the station, and it was eventually integrated into the area streetcar system.

The depot is owned by the [[Minnesota Historical Society]] and operated by the Minnesota Transportation Museum. In 1967, the depot became the first building to be restored by the museum and it was outfitted with exhibits. In 2004, the [[METRO (Minnesota)|METRO]] [[Blue Line (Minnesota)|Blue Line]]'s [[50th Street/Minnehaha Park station|Minnehaha Park station]] opened across the road from the old depot.

==Classic buses==
[[File:Twin City Lines bus 1303.jpg|thumb|Twin City Lines bus 1303]]
Up until 2019, Several buses from the 1940s and 1950s were also operated by the museum. Most equipment in the bus collection were built by the [[GMC Truck|GMC]] division of [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]], and represented the vehicles that replaced the streetcars in the Twin Cities in the 1950s. The conversion from a streetcar to bus system required two years. The last trolley run was on Hennepin Avenue on June 18, 1954.<ref>[https://slphistory.org/masstransit/ "Mass Transit: Streetcars and Buses"]. St Louis Park Historical Society.</ref>

The collection consisted of buses that once operated in and across Minnesota. The Earliest is a 1942 Mack (occasionally used in conjunction with the Commemorative Air Force) which transported war workers to the B-24 final assembly point at what is now St Paul's Holman Field, and a block of 1953/54 GMC transit units, two of which are painted in original Twin Cities Lines colors. The buses were used in regular charter service, and once formed a very visible part of the museum's collection, often used in wedding and corporate charters, and on the museum's city tours.

This part of the collection was sponsored by Richfield Bus Company, who had provided maintenance and licensing to operate them.

As the museum acquired much of its bus collection from [[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|Metro Transit]], the bus company sometimes requested the use of the old buses for special events.

In 2019, the entire bus collection was donated to a private party. The museum currently has no plans on acquiring new buses to replace their former collection.

==Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway==
[[File:Great Northern SDP40 325.jpg|thumb|Five-car train going over the St. Croix River]]
MTM, in conjunction with the Historical Society of [[Osceola, Wisconsin]], operates a [[heritage railway|heritage railroad]] called the [[Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway]].  Excursion trains are operated on trackage formerly owned by [[Wisconsin Central Ltd.]], now part of [[Canadian National Railway]].

Excursion trains operate from the historic Osceola Depot, north to Dresser, Wisconsin, and southbound to and through the scenic St. Croix River Valley. Regular schedules begin on the first weekend in May, continuing through the last week of October. Special Event trains operate through the season, including Wine Tasting, the Pumpkin Train (Halloween) and Fall Leaf Viewing trains through the River Valley.

At the Osceola service area, several locomotives and pieces of [[rolling stock]] are on display. All equipment has been reconditioned to standard operating condition, including classic 1920s open-window coaches, Great Northern express coaches and a refreshment car (Baggage car 265). Locomotives currently in running condition are classic [[Diesel electric locomotive|diesel-electric]].

In past years the classic steam engine, Northern Pacific No.&nbsp;328 (4-6-0) was used to pull the trains, but has been placed in restoration status due to its age (107 yrs).

The regular service train route runs approximately 50 minutes to/from [[Dresser, Wisconsin]], and 100 minutes to/from [[Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota]].

The Museum also operates the Dresser Depot at the northeast terminus of the line in Dresser, WI. The Depot has been preserved exactly as if the staff stepped out for a break, down to calendars and railroad notices. It is also the site of Pumpkin Train Park, hosting several thousand visitors during the pre-Halloween weekend.

==Jackson Street Roundhouse==
{{multiple image
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 | image1=Minnesota Transportation Museum 03.jpg | alt1=Museum entrance
 | image2=Jackson Street Roundhouse 2018-10-07.jpg | alt2=Turntable at the Jackson Street Roundhouse
 | footer = Left: Museum entrance; Right: Turntable
}}
The Jackson Street Roundhouse is MTM headquarters in [[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], as well as a fully functional railroad [[Railway roundhouse|roundhouse]], one of the last of its kind in the country. During winter months, the Roundhouse is a functioning work area for Museum rolling stock, often with the volunteer workforce welding, grinding and sending sparks flying.

Open Wednesday & Saturday, year-round, and on Friday during the summer months it is a maintenance & restorations base for the museum's [[locomotives]] and [[rolling stock]].  It is highly interactive, offering train rides (Saturdays) as well as hands-on exhibits about surface transportation history of Minnesota and the upper Midwest.

The building was erected by the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] in 1907, replacing another, older roundhouse. The site has been used for rail transportation since the first railroad came to Minnesota (1860s). The Roundhouse and surrounding grounds are a near complete display of American industrial history from the 19th century through the mid-20th century.
[[File:Museum floor, Minnesota Transportation Museum.jpg|thumb|Museum floor]]
The Roundhouse is base for equipment as varied as Pullman coaches, Northern Pacific RR mail & baggage cars, an operating {{convert|115|ft|adj=on}} turntable, a 200-ton lifting crane, an F7A Freight engine (under long term restoration to operating status), a Brill Car (one of the last of its kind), and Rock Island Business Car "Gritty Palace" - donated by the late Art Pew's family in 2022.

The roundhouse is also home to the famous [[Northern Pacific Railway]] steam engine No.&nbsp;2156, known to many Twin Cities [[Generation X|Gen X]] children as [[Casey Jones]]'s steam engine, from the popular children's program "Lunch With Casey" starring [[Roger Awsumb]] as Casey Jones, in the 60's & 70's. No.&nbsp;2156, having been torn down for restoration for the last decade, is undergoing stabilization to become part of a "Steam Bay" exhibit, demonstrating the inner workings of steam locomotives. It will be displayed next to its sister engine No.&nbsp;2153, restored cosmetically to original operating configuration.

==Train equipment==
===Steam locomotives===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Locomotive details<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.transportationmuseum.org/steam_locomotives.cfm|website=Minnesota Transportation Museum|title=Steam Locomotives|access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref>
! Locomotive !! class="unsortable" | Type || Built || Retired || class="unsortable" | Acquired || Status !! class="unsortable" | Image
|-
| [[Northern Pacific 328|Northern Pacific #328]] || [[Northern Pacific Railway class S-10|Class S-10]] 4-6-0 || Alco, 1905 || 1950 || Leased 1976 || Awaiting Operational Restoration || [[File:NP 328.JPG|150px|]] 
|-
| Northern Pacific #2153 || Class Q-3 4-6-2 || Baldwin, 1909 || 1950s || Donated 2000 || Awaiting Restoration To Operating Condition|| [[File:NP 2153.JPG|150px|]] 
|-
| Northern Pacific #2156 || Class Q-3 4-6-2 || Baldwin, 1909 || 1950s || Leased 1980 - Purchased Later || Awaiting Restoration To Operating Condition || [[File:NP 2156.JPG|150px|]] 
|}

===Diesel locomotives===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Locomotive details<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.transportationmuseum.org/diesel_locomotives.cfm|website=Minnesota Transportation Museum|title=Diesel Locomotives|access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref>
! Locomotive || class="unsortable" | Type || Built || Retired || class="unsortable" | Acquired || Location || Status !! class="unsortable" | Image
|-
| Andersen Windowalls #3110 || [[EMD SW1]] || 1949 || 2000 || Donated 2001 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Operational || [[File:MNTX3110 2019.jpg|150px|]]
|-
| Burlington Northern #6234 (Colorado & Southern #839) || [[EMD SD9]] || 1959 || 2003 || Donated 2003 || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational || [[File:BN6234JSRH.jpg|150px]] 
|-
| Chicago Burlington & Quincy #9735 || EMD PMC || 1929 || ? || Purchased 1984 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Stored, awaiting restoration ||
|-
| [[GE 57-ton gas-electric boxcab|Dan Patch #100]] || GE 57-Ton || 1913 || 1967 || Donated 1967  || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Display || [[File:DanPatch-100-1913.jpg|150px]]
|-
| General Mills #7176 || GE 35-Ton || 1962 || 2018 || Donated 2018 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Under restoration ||
|-
| Great Northern #325 || [[EMD SDP40]] || 1966 || 2008 || Donated 2009 || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational || [[File:Great Northern 325.jpg|150px]] 
|-
| Great Northern #454-A || [[EMD F7|EMD F7A]] || 1950 || 1981 || 2003 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Stored, awaiting restoration || [[File:GN454 2018.jpg|150px]]
|-
| Great Northern #558 || [[EMD SD7]] || 1952 || 1983 || Donated 2017 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Stored, awaiting restoration || [[File:BN6008 2019.jpg|150px]]
|-
| Lake Superior Terminal & Transfer #101 || [[EMD NW2]] || 1948 || ? || ? || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Stored || [[File:LSTT101 2018.jpg|150px]]
|-
| Northern Pacific (LST&T) #105 || [[EMD SW1200]] || 1957 || ? || 1987 || Jackson Street Roundhouse|| Operational || [[File:NP105 2019.jpg|150px]] 
|-
|Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe #2627 (MNTX #454) || [[Santa Fe CF7|EMD CF7]] || 1946 || 2015 || 2020 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Stored, as a spare parts provider ||
|-
| Northern States Power NSP-5 || [[GE 45-ton switcher|GE 45-Ton]] || 1951 || 20xx || 2023 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Under restoration ||
|-
| Soo Line #559 (Rock Island #1223) || [[EMD GP7]] || 1951 || 1997 || Purchased 1998 || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Operational || [[File:Soo559 2018.jpg|150px]] 
|-
| US Navy #10106 || [[GE 45-ton switcher|GE 45-Ton]] || 1942 || ? || ? || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Operational ||
|-
|}

===Passenger cars===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Railroad Company !! class="unsortable" | Operating Number || class="unsortable" | Car Name || Car Type !! class="unsortable" | Location || Notes
|-
| Chicago & North Western || 8676 || || Baggage-Express || Jackson Street Roundhouse || On display
|-
| Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy || 4709 || Silver Castle || Streamlined Dome Car || Jackson Street Roundhouse || In storage, awaiting restoration
|-
| Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific || 98 || Gritty Palace || Business Car || On the way to the museum || On display
|-
| Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific || 2529 ||  || Heavyweight Commuter Coach || Jackson Street Roundhouse || On display
|-
| Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific || 2604 ||  || Heavyweight Commuter Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific || 2608 ||  || Heavyweight Commuter Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Duluth, South Shore, & Atlantic || 101 ||  || Baggage-Mail-Express || Jackson Street Roundhouse || On display
|-
| Erie Lakawanna || 2232 ||  || Heavyweight MU Trailer Commuter Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Great Northern || A-11 || || Streamlined Lounge/Observation/Business Car || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Great Northern || A-18 || || Business Car || || On the way from California
|-
| Great Northern || 16 ||  || Steam Heat Car || Jackson Street Roundhouse || In storage (Painted Burlington Northern)
|-
| Great Northern || 265 || Mariah || Streamlined Baggage || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Great Northern || 480 ||  || Heavyweight Baggage || Jackson Street Roundhouse || On display
|-
| Great Northern || X-757 || Drover's Coach || Heavyweight Coach || Jackson Street Roundhouse || On display
|-
| Great Northern || 1084 || Twin Ports || Streamlined Parlor-Buffet ||Jackson Street Roundhouse || Under restoration
|-
| Great Northern || 1096 ||  || Streamlined Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || At Albia, IA Relco Paint Shop for restoration
|-
| Great Northern || 1097 ||  ||  Streamlined Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational (used as dining car)
|-
| Great Northern || 1146 ||  || Streamlined Diner || Jackson Street Roundhouse || Under restoration 
|-
| Great Northern || 1213 ||  || Streamlined Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Great Northern || 1215 || City Of Osceola || Streamlined Coach || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || Operational
|-
| Great Northern || 1224 ||  || Streamlined Coach || Jackson Street Roundhouse || In storage, awaiting restoration
|-
| Milwaukee Road || 502 ||  || Streamlined Coach || Jackson Street Roundhouse || On display
|-
| Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern || 2352 || Gopher || Heavyweight Business Car || Jackson Street Roundhouse|| On display
|-
| Northern Pacific || 598 ||  || Streamlined Coach || Jackson Street Roundhouse || In storage, awaiting restoration
|-
| Northern Pacific || 1102 ||  || Heavyweight Triple Combination || Osceola and St. Croix Valley RY || In Service
|-
| Northern Pacific || 1370 ||  || Heavyweight Coach || Jackson Street Roundhouse || In storage
|-
| Soo Line || 1472 ||  || Heavyweight Diner || Jackson Street Roundhouse || In storage
|-
|}

===Cabooses===
* Burlington Northern #11214
* Chicago, Burlington & Quincy #13500
* Great Northern #X71
* Milwaukee Road #992040
* Northern Pacific #1264
* Northern Pacific #1631
* Soo Line #31

===Service & miscellaneous equipment===
* Great Northern #X1735 Derrick Wrecking Crane
* Northern Pacific #30 Russel Snow Plow

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Minnesota Transportation Museum}}
*[http://www.transportationmuseum.org/ Minnesota Transportation Museum]
*[http://sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/minnehaha-depot Minnesota Historical Society: Minnehaha Depot]

{{Museums in Minnesota}}
{{Twin Cities Railroads}}
{{Protected areas of Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Automobile museums in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Bus museums]]
[[Category:Minnesota state historic sites]]
[[Category:Museums in Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Railroad museums in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Railroad roundhouses in Minnesota]]
[[Category:History museums in Minnesota]]