Where nature smiles for 300 miles

In 1886, the Chicago Burlington and Northern, owned by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q), completed its line following the Mississippi River for 300 scenic miles from Savanna, IL to Saint Paul, MN via Lacrosse and Prescott, WI providing a direct route from Chicago to the Twin Cities.

This route was 431 miles, 30 miles longer than its competition (the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago and North Western) but it had more gentle grades and curves. Daily passenger service started with a new train called The Scenic Express and a night train called The Vestibule Limited.

When re-equipped in 1897, the Vestibule Limited was referred to as the “Finest Train in the World”. In 1907, the westbound train the Vestibule Limited changed its name to The Minnesota Limited and the East bound train became The Chicago Limited. In 1899 the CB&N merged into the CB&Q.

In 1901 the CB&Q became under control of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern but retained its name until the formation of the Burlington Northern on March 3, 1970. Almost the entire line from Chicago to the Twin Cities is well maintained-double-track and is recognized among trainmen as one of the finest in the world. To this day it is still referred to as “The Race Track”.

Due to popular demand, on June 2, 1935 the Zephyrs were rescheduled so each train made a round trip each day. They were named the Morning and Afternoon Zephyrs and the schedule was then reduced to 5-1/2 hours, increasing the average speed including stops to 77.7 mph with a top speed of 104 mph.

This demanding schedule required each train to make a round trip of 863 miles each day. This moved the Twin Cities Zephyr to the top of the speed list and it became the “Fastest Scheduled Train in the World”. It held that honor from June 2, 1935 until Amtrak took over on April 30, 1971, and that would be last trip for the Twin Cities Zephyr.

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad steam locomotive in Douglas, WY. Built September 1940 until 1956 in service, moved to Douglas in 1962.

Celebrate National Train Day, May 11th, with the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum will observe National Train Day, May 11, 2013 at its annual Spring Fairgrounds Hobby Show and Sale in the Education Building, 1372 Cosgrove Street, Falcon Heights, MN at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, MN. The show opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 3:00 p.m.

Model Railroad layouts in a variety of scales will be on display including the TCMRM’s traveling Thomas the Tank Engine layout, which can be operated by little engineers of all ages. Engineer Paul from The Choo Choo Bob video series will also perform live on stage. Also on display will be dozens of vendors and collectors selling model railroad items in variety of scales and sizes.

Admission to the show is $6 per person for ages 5 and above, free for children under age 5. No advance ticket sales, tickets may be purchased only on May 11th at the show or the museum. Admission to the show will also entitle show goers to admission to Twin City Model Railroad Museum at Bandana Square, 1021 Bandana Boulevard East, Suite 222, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

So put on your Milwaukee gear, and join us. There will be Milwaukee prints for sale 2pm-9pm and John Cartwright, local artist specializing in drawings of railroad facilities, will be selling his depot drawings at the museum, so come and pick up a print of your favorite depot.

Milwaukee fans will also want to stop at the Toy Train Division in the Chimney’s Building location, to visit with Tom Strauss, a retired fireman on the Milwaukee Road.  Tom has a comprehensive history and collection of file photos of every diesel locomotive ever run on the Milwaukee Road, all meticulously hand written in journals, which in itself is work of art.  Any information that you ever wanted to know about a particular locomotive Tom will likely have available.

There are only a few sessions remaining in the 2012-2013 Night Trains season. Don’t miss your chance to see Night Trains before the season ends on Saturday, February 23rd.

Check out the video below, taken during a recent Night Trains event:

About Night Trains

Night Trains Season is a special Holidays tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 24, 2012) and running every Saturday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 pm through the last Saturday in February (February 23, 2013).

Night Trains Season comes to the dozens of model railroad layouts in a magical way, the lights are turned down, the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of vintage passenger trains.

The make believe town of Matlin is buried in a blizzard, and throughout the Museum the layouts are adorned with miniature Christmas lights and decorations.

Ring in the New Year; bring your family to the Twin City Model Railroad Museum for a Night Trains Extra on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 6 to 9 p.m.

There will also be railroad depot art by John Cartwright on display.

About Night Trains

Night Trains Season is a special Holidays tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 24, 2012) and running every Saturday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 pm through the last Saturday in February (February 23, 2013).

Night Trains Season comes to the dozens of model railroad layouts in a magical way, the lights are turned down, the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of vintage passenger trains.

The make believe town of Matlin is buried in a blizzard, and throughout the Museum the layouts are adorned with miniature Christmas lights and decorations.