Dan Antion

Lake Superior Railroad Museum

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The Lake Superior Railroad Museum (LSRM) is located in the Historic Duluth Union Depot. The museum claims to house “the finest collection of Railroad Equipment in the country.” I haven’t visited every railroad museum in the country, but I’ve visited quite a few, and this is the best one I’ve seen. According to the LSRM webpage, the museum began as a local project in 1973 and has grown into one of the largest and most respected railway museums in the US. The museum focuses on railroading in the Lake Superior region.

I could tell you a little bit more about the museum, but I’ll stop with this: if you are ever in Duluth, Minnesota, plan on spending a couple hours in at LSRM.

Now, if you didn’t skip to the participant galleries at the first instance of “railroad,” then you’re probably here for the trains. Let’s do that.

I have included my observations, impressions and some facts in the captions. To read the full captions, click on any picture in the gallery to enter the slide show. The captions may not be fully visible. If you’re interested, click on the little ‘i’ in a circle. I believe, once you click on that, the captions will stay visible throughout the show.

Thank you for visiting. If you contributed links to your doors, thank you for participating.

The William Crooks, the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad’s No. 1, a 4-4-0 American type built in 1861.
The William Crooks, the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad’s No. 1, a 4-4-0 American type built in 1861.
I love the doors at the front of the boilers,.
Doors in the back are big enough to let train cars pass through. I also like the lights.
There’s an exit door in the background, but I remember when I was learning to drive and having to identify signs like this by their shape.
The Minnetonka. A wood burning locomotive was the first locomotive on the Northern Pacific Railway. It was manufactured by Smith & Porter of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
You knew I couldn’t pass by this wrecker without taking a good look and a few pictures.
The business end of the wrecker (crane).
The story of the wrecker. Obsolete, but remarkable
The story of the Minnetonka.
The Minnetonka. The boiler door says “Smith & Porter – Pittsburgh, PA”
Some of the assets on display were hard to track down. I don’t know much about this car, but I like it.
I think this is a caboose or a work car, but it wasn’t listed in the collection. Still, I like the door.
The passage ways were very narrow in the electric locomotives, Equipment filled the center of each car.
Inside one of the early electric freight trains.
Looking forward to the cab of one of the electric locomotives.

If you are in a hurry and don’t wish to scroll through the comments, click to Jump to the comment form.

156 comments

  13. What beautifully restored pieces of history these trains are. This is quite a railroad museum. I don’t know how you pulled yourself away from it. Back in the 1800’s, I can’t imagine how women, with their long and bulky dresses, ever managed to maneuver down an aisle of a train!

    Thanks for sharing.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I remember the docent at a trolley museum explaining how the height of the stairs made it hard for women not to reveal their ankles, which was frowned upon. You guys have had a tough time with changing fashions over time.

      I’m glad you like the trains, Ginger.

      Like

      Reply

    • The relation between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Duluth is interesting, A steel town, building a locomotive to help move iron ore to the lake for shipment. I’m glad you enjoyed this.

      You had quite the complicated journey to get your photos,

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • The only time I visited, I toured the war museum in Duxford with a friend of mine who lives in Ipswich. IF I ever make it back, I will work in a trip to York.

      Thanks for making me smile with your door today.

      Like

      Reply

    • I think it’s a native American name. From the history site, “The land that would come to be known as Minnetonka was sacred ground for Native Americans. The dense woods and open prairies made for good hunting, while Lake Minnetonka provided excellent fishing. The Dakotah Sioux and Ojibway Chippewa would cross through Minnetonka as they traveled”

      Also from that site, “Early settlers came to Minnetonka primarily from New England and other states east of Minnesota, from northern Europe and the British Isles, and from the Czech Republic.”

      It’s a fine locomotive, though.

      I enjoyed visiting with you today (although I’m hungry).

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  25. What great photos, Dan. I’ve visited several railroad museums but not this one. I love the stories that are evoked walking through/by the cars. The romance, the intrigue, the century itself. Thank you for sharing. Loved it! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Gwen. I think it must have been a wonderful time to travel. To be on one of these trains, enjoying meals in the opulent dining cars. One of the displays is china place settings from all the various railroads that came to Union Station. Imagine – dinner served on china while you’re traveling – how not anything like our travel experience today.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  26. We have a couple of towns nearby that have train museums, but not like this! These are so well-restored, Dan. The William Crooks is a beauty. Minnetonka…I wear their slippers!! I wonder if the train Minnetonka is somehow related to the shoe Minnetonka.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. What a wonderful museum! My father worked for the C&O/B&O Railroad, and we could ride coach free back in those days, so I took many a train back then. Also I lived 3 houses away from the railroad tracks as a young child, and spent many hours watching trains go by. I still prefer a train to flying today. (K)

    Here’s my door this week:

    Autumn door and more

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • The two steam locomotives featured here were wood-burners. Coal would have had to be brought in, as there are no deposits in Minnesota. But there was abundant forest land.

      Your short post is very much worth a look.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  51. Hi Dan – it all looks fascinating and I can see why you’d like to revisit and spend a bit more time … as I would too – even though I might not understand much. Loved all the photos and history etc … cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Some of it is hard to understand without research into the era, Hilary but these machines are amazing. To look at the locomotives and realize that every widget and gizmo had a purpose. I find it fascinating. The passenger cars are equally amazing.

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  52. There are times I’m reduced to one syllable, and this is one of those times: WOW. That RR crossing sign sure brought back memories; they were all over the place where I grew up. Of course I never saw any locomotives as wonderful as these, but I remember the awe as these behemoths shook the ground. It must have been amazing to walk around in such a museum — what a history book. Thanks for taking us along!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Haha – I am not going to move to Duluth, Teagan (although it would cool to volunteer at that museum). I am still doing some research on a couple assets in the collection, but there will be another post.

      Liked by 1 person

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  57. Geeze Dan. I’m so late to the event I need a passport to get to the bottom of the comments. 🤭 You know I love a good railroad museum and this one looks great. Hat a terrific excursion. 👏🏻👏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

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  64. Oh, I could spend more than a day in this museum. I am so impressed with the restoration of all of these train cars, engines and of course the wrecker…..great post Dan…Thank you for sharing this!! Oh, yeah….great doors:) I got so caught up in the restoration of all this, but I didn’t forget the doors!! Great captures!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  65. What a wonderful post, Dan! If I ever get to Duluth, this museum will be high on my list. You know how much I love trains. My children’s book is about a train, a boy, and a dog. Hopefully an agent will like it. Isn’t it wonderful that these trains have been preserved?

    Liked by 1 person

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  67. Dan – I would definitely visit this museum if in that area – trains have such a special part of the past (and still go now but not like the prime years which your photos captured for us!) 🚂

    Liked by 1 person

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  72. Went down a rabbit hole and found you at the bottom. Seems I was meant to find your blog. I like doors too, but like trains even more. Check out my view of Tehachapi Live Trains at West Cable on YouTube — The camera at West Cable is camera #1, Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum is camera #2, The Tehachapi Loop is camera #3, and the most recent camera is on Edison Hwy. by the Guimarra Winery. All four cameras are 24/7/365 and are a direct feed to YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6RIkXobtXWJElbwEHIC-sg My blog is at tehachap.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

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