Northstar Commuter Rail Action at Coon Rapids Riverdale Station
The
Northstar Commuter Rail Line (route 888) runs from
Big Lake, MN to downtown
Minneapolis. Operated by the
Twin Cities' transit
operator Metro Transit, this line sees approximately 700
000 riders annually. On weekdays, trains are run during the rush hour periods, and are only run a few times per day on weekends and holidays.
Check www.metrotransit.org for schedule and train information.
While I was on a trip to Minneapolis, I had the opportunity to catch a few of the beautifully painted
Northstar (reporting mark
MNRX) Trains. Over Saturday and Sunday, I caught four Northstar Trains arriving then departing
Coon Rapids Station in
Coon Rapids, MN. Sit back, and relax and watch as Northstar trains scurry to and from downtown Minneapolis.
Day 1: Saturday June 27:
Train 1 (0:01): MNRX
505 (MP36PH-3C) and MNRX
503 (MP36PH-3C) are in charge of a three car Saturday Train. Stopping for less than a minute at Coon Rapids Station, the train is attempting to make up for lost time, and is currently running 5 minutes late.
Train
2 (1:45):
BNSF 5345 (
C44-9W) and BNSF 9257 (SD70ACe) lead a long manifest freight west on the
Staples Subdivision. BNSF freight operations are stopped during Northstar
Service hours. There won't be another northbound Northstar train through the Station for another few hours, so BNSF is taking full advantage of this window.
Train
3 (4:19): MNRX
Cabcar 601 is leading as the southbound Northstar train emerges from behind the westbound freight. Powering the short train is MNRX 503 (MP36PH-3C) and MNRX 505 (MP36PH-3C). Before allowing the passengers to disembark, the train reverses to line up with a higher platform, so that a disabled passenger may board. Upon departure, the engineer takes full advantage of the two locomotives and throws them both into notch 8. This train will be cruising at 80
MPH in no time.
Day 2: Sunday June 28:
Train 1 (6:49): MNRX Cabcar 601 is still on the
point of a southbound train the next day, as it leads a short train into the Coon Rapids Station.
Quickly getting on with the rest of the journey downtown, the two MP36PH-3Cs (503 and 505) put out all the power they can muster.
Train 2 (8:24): MNRX 505 (MP36PH-3C) and MNRX 503 (MP36PH-3C) arrive at Coon Rapids Station with a trio of
Bombardier Bi-level coaches in tow.
Thanks to the engineer for the friendly wave!
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©
2015 Jack Hykaway