Friday, July 09, 2010

Northern Pacific 1-"Minnetonka"


The Nothern Pacific Railway's first locomotive was the "Minnetonka", a Smith & Porter 0-4-0 built in 1870, and used in the construction of the railroad as it started west from Carlton, MN. The engine was later sold to a logging company, and spent many years hauling logs before being repurchased by the NP for preservation. She is still owned by the NP's successor, the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe, and in recent years spent some time on display at the company's headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. Happily, she is now back home at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth.



If you are a railroad buff, go to this link http://parkengines.railfan.net/MN/content.shtml to see some fantastic images.

13 comments:

  1. Hi Kate,
    there is a link for more Information (in english)under the Sandsation Photo. Have a nice weekend!
    Greetings from Berlin

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fine looking steam locomotive. I love to see these old locos preserved and kept in good condition for future generations to see.
    Here in Leeds we have the the world's oldest continuously working railway. The Middleton railway was founded in 1758 and is now a heritage railway run by volunteers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. They are so well preserved! Real beauties!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous2:49 PM

    Those strong locomotives were much more certainly working than our new ones, which are suffering about frost or snow or warmth . . .:)
    Happy weekend to you Kate!
    I hope everything is going well in your family!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, amazing condition. Choo, choo!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lots of horse power sitting here.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Chug 'a chug 'a choo chooooo! Just look back at trains from yester year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is a great beauty! I love trains..so thanks for the pictures and the link.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A part of the American dream for European peoples.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Now I know what toy train designs are based on. Cool!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So beautiful...wonderfully restored. Ah, the good old days.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice photos. A beautiful engine indeed. I also love the name as it is my hometown.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog; I appreciate it! Come back often!!