that bypassed the Twin Cities — and thus was delivered to the Twin Ports on schedule. The unit arrived at the museum on September 10, and the staff worked down to the last minute to get it ready — its distinctive NP monad nose herald was applied just an hour before Friday’s night photo session started. Saturday, September 12, featured No.


3617 on a simulated ore train on North Shore Scenic’s ex-Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Lakefront Line, with 20 borrowed CN ore cars and an authentic wooden NP caboose. Since the SD45 is not yet operational, power was provided by Soo Line FP7 No. 2500, which was coupled to the rear of the train along with NP round end sleeper/observation Rainer Club. The first photo stop was at Lester River with No. 3617 glowing in the early morning light. The train then proceeded to Palmers for runbys and to meet the regular train to Two Harbors. After lunch, Soo No. 2500 was switched up front to simulate a Cuyuna Range ore train of the 1960s; runbys were made at both Knife River and French River before the train returned to Duluth. For the fans that participated, it was


an unforgettable weekend and one not likely to be repeated. There are those who will say charters like this constitute “fake railroading.” Let me say this: I was born in 1975. I never had the chance to see Great Northern’s legendary name


42 NOVEMBER 2015 • RAILFAN.COM


passenger trains nor NP freight power in service — both were long gone before I ever picked up a camera. People in my generation (and the next) can either look at old Kodachromes during a basement slide show, or — thanks to groups like the MTM, LSRM, and St. Croix Valley — relive the past through photo charters. For three days in September 2015, it was the Sixties again in Minnesota, when SD45s ruled the rails.


TOP: NP 3617 shows off its fresh paint, lacking only class lights (to be installed soon) to be 100 percent authentic.


ABOVE: “NP 3634” is awaiting the arrival of the BNSF local at Hinckley, Minn., on Septem- ber 11, 2015.


Magnetic lettering and new


number boards were used to turn these St. Croix Valley SD40M-2s into NP SD45s.


RIGHT: Southbound out of Hinckley, Nos. 3634 and 3630 are about to duck under the highway bridge on their way towards Rush City.


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