RAILROAD IN RICHFIELD
There is a branch railroad line that runs north through Richfield, dividing Pleasant Avenue, and servicing several business firms along 59th and 60th streets. I lived in the this part of town for a couple of decades, often hearing a train whistle, but never knowing the source until I moved to Pleasant Ave. Next to where I live now is a siding that is used for sidetracking cars and shuffling the order of cars in a string... a process that is interesting to watch. The locomotive belongs to Progressive Rail, out of Lakeville. The tracks effectively divide the area between Nicollet and Lyndale into separate areas, with many streets deadended at the tracks. Click on any of the photos for a larger version. By pointing to the lower right corner of that image, you should be able to click and see a full-size image.
 South from 63rd, showing the empty cars left on the siding by the locomotive |
 Looking west on 63rd from between two parked rail cars. Where did that locomotive go? |
 Walking north from 63rd, to find out where that locomotive disappeared to. |
 Aggregate Industries ready-mix plant on 61st |
 No locomotive here, but plenty of action. |
 There's a hopper car of cement, adorned with graffiti, as many are. |
 more of Aggregate |
 AHA! Found the locomotive. North of 60th, the tracks curve into the rear yard of LeJeune Steel, the largest steel fabricator in the upper midwest. |
 What's getting all the attention at the back of that rail car? |
 60th zigzags thru the industrial area. Large school bus parking lot just visible. |
 Looking east on 60th, toward Nicollet. Theis Bros. Tires, Stonebrooke, and Aerotech are visible. |
 Now there's a crane at the back of the rail car, so I move into the rear yard of LeJeune for a better look |
 Seems that the rail car slipped off the rail. The crane, weilding a big magnet used for moving scrap metal, is nudging it back into place. |
 The locomotive and car is on the move again |
 Now just beginning to cross 60th, whistle blaring |
 He's moved past me (with a wave from the engineer), moving south |
 Past 60th, and traffic is free to pass again |
 With me following, he's now alongside my apartment building, just south of the Crosstown highway overpass |
 Looking south from 63rd. The locomotive and car have backed onto the siding and attached the empty cars to the rear |
 Closeup of the locomotive. Is that Mike riding on the front and doing the switching? What's with the pirate skull and crossbones? |
 Notice that the locomotive is not only clean... it's WAXED! |
 Lights on and ready to leave the area. Notice the man walking alongside, reading. |