Electric Short Line Railway
Encyclopedia
The Electric Short Line Railway, also known as Luce Electric Lines, was a railroad that operated in Minnesota
, originating in Minneapolis
and heading westward. The railroad owes its nickname to the fact it was operated by members of the Luce family. The railroad ultimately reached beyond Clara City
to Gluek. Today, the line has mostly been abandoned, but its former right-of-way now hosts the Luce Line State Trail operated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
. The Luce Line Regional Trail operated by the Three Rivers Park District
connects to the state trail, but runs on roads and paths that roughly parallel what remains of the Luce Electric Lines.
The Electric Short Line Railway and the affiliated Electric Short Line Railroad (later renamed the Electric Short Line Terminal Co.) were incorporated in late 1908. Construction started in 1909, but it took until 1913 for the first 3.2 miles to be completed from 3rd Avenue and 7th Street North (construction was in various stages of completion for the next 30 miles, however). That spot was originally known as Boagen Green, then became Luce Line Junction when the Dan Patch Line
reached it. It eventually became known as Glenwood Junction. Rail east of that point was owned by the ESL Terminal Co., while rail to the west was owned by the ESL Railway. 17.8 miles were complete by mid-1914, 47.5 by mid-1915, and 70.9 miles by the end of 1917 (although some of this included double-tracking), reaching Hutchinson
.
Backers of the line had originally planned to reach Watertown, South Dakota
, and construction westward resumed in 1922 with completion to Cosmos
and extension to Lake Lillian
the following year. However, the railroad fell into foreclosure in 1924, and the Electric Short Line Railway came under the control of the Minnesota Western Railroad (later known as the Minneapolis Industrial Railway), which had been formed by the ESL Railway's bondholders. The Luce family lost control of the company around this time, possibly as late as 1927.
Despite the "Electric Short Line" name, the railroad never operated electric locomotive
s. Passenger service used gasoline-electric railcar
s manufactured by General Electric
and Wason Car Company, though one gasoline-mechanical McKeen Motor Car Company
railcar also saw use. The railcars often towed extra passenger cars as trailers. Freight trains were pulled by steam locomotive
s.
The Minnesota Western Railway continued to operate passenger service into the early 1940s, but was reduced to just one passenger railcar by the end of 1942. The Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway, successor to the Dan Patch Line, acquired and merged the Electric Short Line Terminal Co. in 1955–1956. Dan Patch/MN&S long had a relationship with the Luce Line, and had used the track from Luce Line Junction to the terminal in Minneapolis for many years.
The rest of the Minnesota Western Railway was acquired by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
in 1956, which came under control of the Chicago and North Western Railway
in 1960. Freight service between Hutchinson and Gluek ended in 1967, and 104 miles of the former Luce Line was formally abandoned in 1972 between Plymouth, Minnesota
and Gluek. Chicago and North Western was merged into the Union Pacific Railroad
in 1995, and the remnants of the Luce Line between Interstate 494
and downtown Minneapolis are now operated as the UP's Golden Valley Industrial Lead.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, originating in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
and heading westward. The railroad owes its nickname to the fact it was operated by members of the Luce family. The railroad ultimately reached beyond Clara City
Clara City, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,393 people, 591 households, and 372 families residing in the city. The population density was 729.0 people per square mile . There were 629 housing units at an average density of 329.2 per square mile...
to Gluek. Today, the line has mostly been abandoned, but its former right-of-way now hosts the Luce Line State Trail operated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,...
. The Luce Line Regional Trail operated by the Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District is a "special park district" serving the suburban areas of the Twin Cities metro including suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties...
connects to the state trail, but runs on roads and paths that roughly parallel what remains of the Luce Electric Lines.
The Electric Short Line Railway and the affiliated Electric Short Line Railroad (later renamed the Electric Short Line Terminal Co.) were incorporated in late 1908. Construction started in 1909, but it took until 1913 for the first 3.2 miles to be completed from 3rd Avenue and 7th Street North (construction was in various stages of completion for the next 30 miles, however). That spot was originally known as Boagen Green, then became Luce Line Junction when the Dan Patch Line
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway
The Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway was an long American short line railroad connecting Minneapolis and Northfield, Minnesota. It was incorporated in 1918 to take over the trackage of the former Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company, also known as...
reached it. It eventually became known as Glenwood Junction. Rail east of that point was owned by the ESL Terminal Co., while rail to the west was owned by the ESL Railway. 17.8 miles were complete by mid-1914, 47.5 by mid-1915, and 70.9 miles by the end of 1917 (although some of this included double-tracking), reaching Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Minnesota
According to the 2000 United States Census , there were 13,080 people, 5,333 households, and 3,418 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,763.6 people per square mile . There were 5,667 housing units at an average density of 764.1 per square mile...
.
Backers of the line had originally planned to reach Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
, and construction westward resumed in 1922 with completion to Cosmos
Cosmos, Minnesota
Cosmos is a city in Meeker County, Minnesota, United States, along the South Fork of the Crow River. The population was 473 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highways 4 and 7 are two of the main arterial routes in the community....
and extension to Lake Lillian
Lake Lillian, Minnesota
Lake Lillian is a city in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 238 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
the following year. However, the railroad fell into foreclosure in 1924, and the Electric Short Line Railway came under the control of the Minnesota Western Railroad (later known as the Minneapolis Industrial Railway), which had been formed by the ESL Railway's bondholders. The Luce family lost control of the company around this time, possibly as late as 1927.
Despite the "Electric Short Line" name, the railroad never operated electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s. Passenger service used gasoline-electric railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s manufactured by General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
and Wason Car Company, though one gasoline-mechanical McKeen Motor Car Company
McKeen Motor Car Company
The McKeen Motor Car Company of Omaha, Nebraska was a builder of internal combustion-engined railroad motor cars , constructing 152 between 1905–1917....
railcar also saw use. The railcars often towed extra passenger cars as trailers. Freight trains were pulled by steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s.
The Minnesota Western Railway continued to operate passenger service into the early 1940s, but was reduced to just one passenger railcar by the end of 1942. The Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway, successor to the Dan Patch Line, acquired and merged the Electric Short Line Terminal Co. in 1955–1956. Dan Patch/MN&S long had a relationship with the Luce Line, and had used the track from Luce Line Junction to the terminal in Minneapolis for many years.
The rest of the Minnesota Western Railway was acquired by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
The Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway was an American Class I railroad that built and operated lines radiating south and west from Minneapolis, Minnesota which existed for 90 years from 1870 to 1960....
in 1956, which came under control of the Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
in 1960. Freight service between Hutchinson and Gluek ended in 1967, and 104 miles of the former Luce Line was formally abandoned in 1972 between Plymouth, Minnesota
Plymouth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,894 people, 24,820 households, and 17,647 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,002.0 persons per square mile . There were 25,258 housing units at an average density of 767.4 per square mile...
and Gluek. Chicago and North Western was merged into the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
in 1995, and the remnants of the Luce Line between Interstate 494
Interstate 494
Interstate 494 is a loop route making up part of a beltway of Interstate 94, circling through the southern and western portions of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota...
and downtown Minneapolis are now operated as the UP's Golden Valley Industrial Lead.