In October 1904 the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) and Canadian Pacific Railway

Canadian Pacific Railway

The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...

 began over-night passenger service between the Twin Cities

Twin cities

Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...

 and Winnipeg

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...

, Manitoba

Manitoba

Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...

. The train consisted of a mail and baggage cars, two passenger cars, a sleeper and dining car. The train went by several names over its 62 years: Manitoba Express (1904–1909), Winnipeg Express (1919–1928) and the Winnipeger (1928–1967). It commonly was called the Winnipeg Flyer.

Diesel locomotives replaced steam between Saint Paul and Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Thief River Falls, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,760.0 people per square mile . There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile...

 from May 1951, and diesels took over the entire route in April of the following year. Originally numbered 109 and 110, the Winnipeger was renumbered 9 and 10 in the general renumbering of Soo Line passenger trains at the end of August 1952, but remained Trains 109 and 110 on Canadian Pacific. From January 1954, the Winnipeger was combined with Trains 13 and 14, the Soo-Dominion/Mountaineer, from Saint Paul to Glenwood, Minnesota

Glenwood, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,594 people, 1,131 households, and 629 families residing in the city. The population density was 466.0 people per square mile . There were 1,202 housing units at an average density of 215.9 per square mile...

, where the trains split, with the Soo-Dominion/Mountaineer continuing on to Canada via Portal, North Dakota

Portal, North Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 131 people, 63 households, and 43 families residing in the city. The population density was 232.8 people per square mile . There were 98 housing units at an average density of 174.1 per square mile...

. The Soo-Dominion terminated at Portal from late 1960 and came off entirely in December 1963, and through service to western Canada ran via Winnipeg on the Winnepeger.

The last season of two-section operation was 1964, when between June 26–27 and September 8–9, the Winnipeger ran as one section to Glenwood, where a meal stop was taken, dining car service having been dispensed with by 1961. The train was switched into two sections for the remainder of run to Winnipeg. Soo first 9 / Canadian Pacific 111 and CP 112 / Soo second 10 ran to/from Winnipeg (non-stop while in Canada), while Soo second 9 / CP 107 and CP 108 / Soo first 10 carried the Vancouver cars and did the local work from Emerson to Winnipeg. Saint Paul to Vancouver though service was discontinued the following year.

In May 1965, the train lost the Canada Post

Canada Post

Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...

 mail contract for the Emerson–Winnipeg run, and the following month the United States Post Office

United States Post Office Department

The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....

 pulled the US mail off the train as well. The express contract was lost in October 1966, and the train struggled on until the night of March 23/24, 1967, when the Winnipeger made its last run.

Train 109	| The Winnipeger		Train 110
Northbound (read down)	Miles	City	Southbound (read up)
8.00 p.m.	0.0	Saint Paul (Union Depot) Saint Paul Union Depot The Saint Paul Union Depot was the main train station in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Saint Paul Union Depot Company controlled of St. Paul trackage and terminal facilities, including the depot building...
8:40 p.m.	10.9	Minneapolis (Milwaukee Road depot) Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot Freight House and Train Shed The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot Freight House and Train Shed , now officially named The Depot, is a historic railroad depot in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St...	8:00 a.m.
10:12 p.m.	68.0	South Haven South Haven, Minnesota South Haven is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 187 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles , all of it land....	—
11:30 p.m. (Ar) 11:42 p.m. (Lv)	132.6	Glenwood, Minnesota Glenwood, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 2,594 people, 1,131 households, and 629 families residing in the city. The population density was 466.0 people per square mile . There were 1,202 housing units at an average density of 215.9 per square mile...	4:40 a.m. (Lv) 4:30 a.m. (Ar)
12:08 a.m.	149.2	Alexandria Alexandria, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...	4:06 a.m.
12:18 a.m.	156.3	Carlos Carlos, Minnesota Carlos is a city in Douglas County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 502 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....	—
12:37 a.m.	169.1	Parker’s Prairie Parkers Prairie, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 991 people, 401 households, and 240 families residing in the town. The population density was 841.8 people per square mile . There were 442 housing units at an average density of 375.4 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 99.39% White, 0.10%...	3:37 a.m.
12:55 a.m.	182.6	Henning Henning, Minnesota Henning is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 802 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....	3:18 a.m.
1:57 a.m.	226.1	Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes, Minnesota -Demographics:As of the official census of 2000, there were 7,348 people, 3,319 households, and 1,845 families permanently residing in the city. The population density was 980.4 people per square mile . There were 3,782 housing units at an average density of 504.6 per square mile...	2:21 a.m.
2:32 a.m.	252.4	Waubun Waubun, Minnesota Waubun is a city in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 400 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 113 are two of the main routes in the community.-Geography:...	1:34 a.m.
2:43 a.m. (Ar) 2:56 p.m. (Lv)	261.6	Mahnomen Mahnomen, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 1,202 people, 532 households, and 311 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,252.9 people per square mile . There were 576 housing units at an average density of 600.4 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.29% White,...	1:22 a.m. (Lv) 1:08 a.m. (Ar)
3:08 a.m.	270.2	Bejou Bejou, Minnesota Bejou is a city in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 89 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...	12:56 a.m.
3:18 a.m.	276.8	Winger Winger, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 205 people, 94 households, and 53 families residing in the city. The population density was 586.4 people per square mile . There were 105 housing units at an average density of 300.4 per square mile...	12:45 a.m.
3:55 a.m.	286.1	Erskine Erskine, Minnesota Erskine is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 503 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Grand Forks- ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...	12:31 a.m.
3:49 a.m.	296.1	Brooks Brooks, Minnesota Brooks is a city in Red Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 141 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.U.S...	12:14 a.m.
4:00 a.m.	303.1	Plummer Plummer, Minnesota Plummer is a city in Red Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 292 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles , all of it land....	12:03 a.m.
4:20 a.m. (Ar) 4:40 a.m. (Lv)	318.8	Thief River Falls Thief River Falls, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,760.0 people per square mile . There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile...	11:40 p.m. (Lv) 11:18 p.m. (Ar)
5:05 a.m.	336.7	Newfolden Newfolden, Minnesota Newfolden is a city in Marshall County, Minnesota, along the Middle River. The population was 368 at the 2010 census. Old Mill State Park is nearby.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....	10:50 p.m.
5:21 a.m.	347.4	Strandquist Strandquist, Minnesota Strandquist is a city in Lincoln Township of Marshall County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 69 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.3 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there...	10:35 p.m.
5:30 a.m.	354.3	Karlstad Karlstad, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 794 people, 340 households, and 199 families residing in the city. The population density was 522.3 people per square mile . There were 394 housing units at an average density of 259.2 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.86% White, 0.63%...	10:25 p.m.
5:40 a.m.	361.3	Halma Halma, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 78 people, 32 households, and 23 families residing in the city. The population density was 83.9 people per square mile . There were 38 housing units at an average density of 40.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White...	10:15 p.m.
5:59 a.m.	367.3	Lake Bronson Lake Bronson, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 246 people, 128 households, and 66 families residing in the city. The population density was 410.3 people per square mile . There were 147 housing units at an average density of 245.2 per square mile...	9:55 p.m.
6:15 a.m.	378.0	Lancaster Lancaster, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 363 people, 154 households, and 91 families residing in the city. The population density was 161.6 people per square mile . There were 193 housing units at an average density of 85.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.90% White, 28% Native...	9:40 p.m.
6:26 a.m.	385.6	Orleans	9:28 p.m.
6:45 a.m. (Ar)	398.9	Noyes, Minnesota Noyes, Minnesota Noyes is an unincorporated community in St. Vincent Township, Kittson County, Minnesota, United States. Located in the extreme northwestern corner of the state, it was an important border-crossing location going back to the days of ox roads. It is the northern terminus of U.S. Route 75 and the...	9:10 p.m.
7:30 a.m.	399.0	Emerson, Manitoba Emerson, Manitoba Emerson is a town in south central Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 655. The town is named after writer Ralph Waldo Emerson.Emerson is located on the east bank of the Red River, just north of the border with the United States at the point where Manitoba, Minnesota, and North Dakota meet. ...	8:55 p.m.
9:20 a.m. (Ar)	464.0	Winnipeg Winnipeg Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...	6:50 p.m.
Source: Soo Line Passenger Time Table, September 1950