Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway
The Osceola and St Croix Valley Railway is a heritage railroad in Osceola, Wisconsin, owned jointly by the Osceola Historical Society and the Minnesota Transportation Museum. It operates on former Soo Line and Wisconsin Central trackage (now owned by the Canadian National Railway).
History and operations
Originally operating out of Stillwater, Minnesota, the railway moved to Osceola in 1992, beginning operations in the St. Croix Valley that year. Operations are currently based in the historic 1916 Soo Line depot, owned by the Osceola Historic Society and leased to the Minnesota Transportation Museum for its rail operations.
The route follows the St. Croix River valley on top of the river bluffs, slowly running down the grade to river level, crossing into Minnesota on the 1887 iron bridge at Cedar Bend, then on to Marine on St. Croix and back up the valley through William O'Brien State Park.
The railway operates every weekend May through October. On alternating weekends it operates the Osceola & St Croix Dinner Train. Meals are served by uniformed staff, on white linen and antique dinner china.
Railroad equipment
The railway uses historic diesel locomotives from its fleet of EMD locomotives. As of 2016, GN 400 was on an operational lease on the railway and is to be extended from 2016 to 2018.
The railroad uses a variety of passenger cars for various trains throughout the year. The railway runs coach trains every weekend in May through October to Marine on St. Croix Saturdays and Sundays, and Dresser on Saturdays.
On alternate weekends it operates first-class brunch and dinner trains in the Great Northern dining cars, one of which is an open-platform observation car. Another Great Northern lounge parlor car is expected to be added to the dinner train fleet in 2017 due to the dinner train's popular demand. The dinner train also runs on special occasions such as Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Occasionally there are Pizza Trains to Marine on St. Croix in the Rock Island commuter coaches.
The railway also runs a fireworks train to Marine on St. Croix on the 4th of July holiday.
In the fall, the railway operates fall color trains and pumpkin trains.
The railway operates several weekday charters throughout its operating season.
Equipment is serviced at MTM's Jackson Street Roundhouse. Every fall locomotives and 3–5 cars are ferried to St. Paul for annual servicing before returning to Osceola in late spring.
Locomotives
| Locomotive | Type | Built | Retired | Acquired | Status | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soo Line 559 (Rock Island 1223) | GP-7 | 1951 EMD | --- | Purchased 1998 | Temporarily out of service at Jackson Street Roundhouse |  |
| Burlington Northern 6234 (Colorado & Southern 839) | SD9 | 1959 EMD | 2003 | Donated 2003 | Operational |  |
| Great Northern 325 | SDP40 | 1966 EMD | 2008 | Donated 2009 | Operational |  |
| Great Northern 400 "Hustle Muscle" | SD45 | 1966 EMD | 1986 | Custodial Loan 2000 (owned by Great Northern Railway Historical Society) | Operational |  |
Passenger cars
| Type | Number | Name | Railroad company | Trains in use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Streamlined lounge, observation, and business car | A-11 | Great Northern Railway (GN) | First-class brunch and dinner trains | In service | |
| Streamlined parlor-buffet | 1084 | "Twin Ports" | Great Northern Railway (GN) | First-class brunch and dinner trains | In restoration (estimated completion 2017) |
| Streamlined baggage | 265 | "Mariah" | Great Northern Railway (GN) | All trains | Concession car |
| Streamlined coach | 1096 | Great Northern Railway (GN) | Coach class | In service | |
| Streamlined Coach | 1097 | Great Northern Railway (GN) | First Class Brunch/Dinner Trains | In Service, Converted to dining car | |
| Streamlined coach | 1213 | Great Northern Railway (GN) | Coach class | In service | |
| Streamlined coach | 1215 | "City Of Osceola" | Great Northern Railway (GN) | Coach class | Lounge car |
| Heavyweight MU trailer commuter coach | 2232 | Erie Lakawanna (EL) | Coach Class/Pumpkin Trains | In service | |
| Heavyweight commuter coach | 2604 | Rock Island (CRI&P) | Coach class and pizza trains | In service | |
| Heavyweight commuter coach | 2608 | Rock Island (CRI&P) | Coach class and pizza trains | In service | |
| Heavyweight triple combination | 1102 | Northern Pacific (NP) | Coach class | In service | |