Railroad: Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie railroad

The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railroad was created in 1888 to built a line from the Wisconsin state line to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The line was merged into successor Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railway in 1944 and then into the Soo Line railroad in 1961. The line became the Wisconsin Central railroad (new) in 1887, and later the Canadian National.

Built → Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway → Soo Line Railroad Company

Consolidated: 1888 - Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie & Atlantic and others with Canadian Pacific financing.

Operated for 74 years (including 1 bankruptcy)

Controlled: 1890 - by Canadian Pacific.

Leased: 1900 - Sainte Marie Union Depot railroad. (50%)

Leased: 1909 - Wisconsin Central (old)

Reached: Duluth in 1911.

Purchased: Wisconsin & Northern Railroad Co in 1906.

Bankruptcy: 1938

Reorganized: 1944 as Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Co.

Merged: 1961 - Into Soo Line Railroad Co.

Reference: [MRRC][SSS]

Notes

Lines built in Michigan (as of 1901):

• Minneapolis to Sault Ste. Marie - January 1, 1888
• Rapid River to Trenary, MI - December 18, 1899 (24.43 miles)
• Gladstone to coal docks (1.13 miles)
• Gladstone to ore docks (1.10 miles) 

When the line was built, it was referred to as the ":Sault Ste. Marie Line" because that was the objective point. By the time it was completed, it had become known as it is today "The Soo Line". [ED{=1040=-1-4]

Time Line

1884. The Minneapolis Saul Ste. Marie & Atlantic railroad begins operation. It is funded by Minneapolis for companies who were looking for transportation of flour and wheat to Boston without going through Chicago. [SLD]

1887. Work on the main line begins east from Rhinelander, and also east and west from Gladstone. The line into the depot at Sault Ste. Marie was completed by December 14th. The bridge over the St. Mary's River was completed December 31 and the rails of the Soo Line and Canadian Pacific were joined that same day. Only a week later, the first through freight train, in 5 sections left Minneapolis with 105 carloads of flour over the new line for the Atlantic coast. Within six months, the Soo Line was operating through sleepers from the Twin Cities to Montreal and Boston. The Montreal sleeper, the last to come off, continued until the first World War period. [EDP-1949-0104]

1901. The MSt&SSM has 20 stations in Michigan as of 1901.

1902. The railroad is laying new 80 lb. rail on its main line in the Upper Peninsula with considerable ballasting. [MCR-1902]

1903. SNAPSHOT. The main line from Sault Sainte Marie to Menominee River was 191 miles. The railroad also had 65 miles of branch lines in Michigan. The railroad operated 23 stations in Michigan. They owned 129 locomotives and many railroad cars throughout their system. [MCR-1904]

1927. The Wolverine Steamship Co. has signed a contract with the Soo Line Railroad to transfer 10,000 automobiles from Detroit to Gladstone this year. The company will charter the steamer Griffin for this particular route. The Griffin will carry ore from Escanaba to East Jordan and pig iron from Marquette to Buffalo, and on return trips will carry automobiles from Detroit to Gladstone. The Griffin will be reconditioned to do this work so that it will not interfere with the present business that she is in. [UVC-1927-0311]

1948. 51% of freight traffic is handled by diesel locomotives. The road will be fully dieselized by November, 1949. [EDP-1949-0104]

1955. August. One of the steam locomotives which has been "moth-balled" here by the Soo Line was put back into service yesterday hauling Way Freight Trains Nos. 44 and 45 between Gladstone and Sault Ste. Marie. This is the first use made of a steam locomotive since the Gladstone Division was completely dieselized last spring. At that time a number of the steam engines were placed in storage here pending use in emergencies. Need for more locomotives on the west end of the railroad to handle heavy harvests resulted in taking three diesels from the local division. Another steam locomotive may be placed in use switching here and possibly one on the Rapid River branch, but no more will be used than is necessary. The situation will not continue more than a month or two. [EDP-1955-0404]

1959. December. The Soo Line is advancing board, room and tuition for qualified males from 17 to 26 to train as depot agents and operators. Applicants must be high school graduates, physically fit and able to attend a 24 week course in Duluth. Contact the Director of Central Career Service at the (Escanaba) Ludington Hotel at Escanaba on December 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. only, to interview prospective students.

1960. March 16. A merger of the Soo Line Railway (MStP&SSM) with the Wisconsin Central and the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic railroad has been approved by directors of all three systems. A vote by the stockholders was set for May 17. If approved, the merger will be submitted to the ICC for its OK. The three railways would be combined into one company to be known as the Soo Line Railroad Company. It would have about 4,800 miles of trackage and assets in excess of $220,000,000. The three lines operate in Illinois, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana. A majority of its stock will be owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway which now has voted control of all three lines. No reduction in service is planed. [EDP-1960-0316]

1960. A DSS&A Historical Society copy of a telegram dated December 30, 1960 indicates "that the Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie Railroad Company and Wisconsin Central Railroad Company into the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic railroad company as surviving corporation with name changed to Soo Line Railroad Company has been filed and this date and the merger is now effective." [DSSAHS]