Soo Line Railroad

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Soo Line Railroad logo from the 1970s
Color scheme of the locomotives of the Soo Line Railroad

The Soo Line Railroad (SLRR, SOO) is a railway company of the Midwest United States . The company, which belongs to the Canadian Pacific Railway group, is based in Minneapolis .

history

The Canadian Pacific Railway owned several railroad companies in the United States in the mid-20th century. To simplify the corporate structure, the Soo Line Railroad was founded on January 1, 1961. For this purpose, the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railroad was renamed and the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad and the Wisconsin Central Railroad merged onto this. As the name, the long-standing nickname of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad elected. This is derived from the pronunciation of the word Sault.

At the time it was founded, there was hardly any significant passenger traffic. By the railroad company was until December 1963 Soo-Dominion , to March 1967, the Winnipeg and until May 1968, the Copper Country Limited operates . After that, there were only a few mixed trains on the way.

In 1982 the Soo Line acquired the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway (MN&S) for 6 million dollars, which was mainly active in the Minneapolis area.

In 1984 the Soo Line Corporation (SLC) was founded as a holding company and all shares in the Soo Line Railroad were transferred to this. On February 19, 1985, the Company acquired the fortune of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road). On January 1, 1986, this and MN&S were merged with the Soo Line Railroad. The acquisition of Milwaukee Road as well as the assumption of the corresponding loan liabilities together with the necessary repair of the railway lines of the Milwaukee Road went to the financial limits of the Soo Line Railroad.

In early 1986, the routes with little economic importance, especially in Wisconsin and Michigan, were outsourced to the "Lake State Transportation Division" (3,200 kilometers) and sold in October 1987 to the newly founded Wisconsin Central for $ 133 million .

For 1988, the company was able to post a profit of $ 15.6 million for the first time after having posted losses for several years.

In the late 1980s, Canadian Pacific initially intended to sell its 56% stake in Soo Line. However, since no buyer was found, the CP finally took over the Soo Line in 1990 for 90 million dollars. As a result, the Soo Line with a route network of around 9,000 kilometers and over 1000 employees was integrated into the CP. At the time, Soo Line was the tenth largest rail company in the United States.

Today the Soo Line Railroad and the Soo Line Corporation only exist on paper and serve as the US subsidiary of the Canadian company. From 2001 to 2007 the Delaware and Hudson Railway, which was taken over by the Canadian Pacific in 1991, was a subsidiary of the Soo Line Corporation. Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad , acquired in 2007, is indirectly held by Soo Line Corporation.

Route network

The route network consisted of an east-west connection between Sault Ste. Marie via Minneapolis to Portal (North Dakota) on the border with Canada . The most important branch routes led from Wisconsin Junction south to Chicago , and from Glenwood north to Noyes , there connection of the CP route to Winnipeg . In Upper Michigan , a railway line ran from Sault Ste. Marie to Duluth . Duluth was also connected to the east-west route by several routes.

The purchase of Milwaukee Road added routes in southern Minnesota, Iowa , Kansas City and Louisville . With the sale of the Lake State Transportation Division, the entire network in Upper Michigan and in northern Wisconsin (including the connection between Minneapolis and Manitowoc ) was sold. The routes to Kansas City and Louisville were later sold by the CP.

Vehicle fleet

The Soo Line Railroad took over the locomotives of the predecessor companies. When the company was founded, the conversion to diesel operation was completely complete. From 1963 to 1967 locomotives of the EMD GP30 , GP35 and GP40 series were procured. From 1969 to 1975 locomotives of the SD40 and SD40-2 series were purchased. The GP38-2 was purchased from 1977 to 1983, followed by the SD60 / SD60M from 1987 to 1989 . In 1968 the railway company rented several GE U30C .

Then there were the diesel locomotives taken over from Milwaukee Road in 1986.

Coloring

After the creation of the Soo Line Railroad, the color scheme of the locomotives in particular was redesigned. The locomotives were given a white and red color scheme. "SOO" was written in large letters on the sides. Later the locomotives were painted completely in red.

Corporate management

President, Chief Executive Officer

Chairman of the Board

Soo Line Corporation

Company headquarters

The company was based in the First National Bank-Soo Line Building , 501 Marquette Avenue South, in Minneapolis. In 2012, the headquarters moved to the Canadian Pacific Plaza , 120 South Sixth Street.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Interstate Commerce Commission reports: reports and decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States / reported by the Commission. ... V366. Retrieved October 7, 2019 .
  2. ↑ 6 Feb 1989, 13 - The Muscatine Journal at Newspapers.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019 .
  3. ^ 19 Dec 1989, Page 19 - Stevens Point Journal at Newspapers.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019 .
  4. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/543438027/?terms=%22Soo%2BLine%2BCorporation%22
  5. ↑ 20 Oct 1978, Page 12 - Star Tribune at Newspapers.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019 .