GN Osseo Line
This is the line that ran near our home when we first became interested in industrial switching. We spent a lot of time walking this line and chasing trains working it.
It was actually BN then but we thought we'd take it back to GN time if we modeled it. We even bought old GN timetables to see what trains ran on it.
But there were no yards in this stretch of it and only one train a day working the industries so we didn't think we could keep our operating crews happy if we built a model of this line.
It's an interesting line if you prefer running mostly through trains with a little switching. If you'd like to learn more about this line, you might want to check out our link to the Minnesota Historical Society.
Track Plans
Monticello
Albertville
Rogers
Maple Grove
Osseo
Brooklyn Park
Robbinsdale
Photos, early 1990s
The Monticello Local at work on the BN's Dakota Division, 15th Sub.
UltraPac, a modern industry, uses piping to unload plastic pellets from from covered hoppers for use in making deli containers.
Spancrete no longer uses this siding as indicated by the missing frog in the turnout.
Improved track work at the Georgia Pacific lumber yard. Georgia is so important a customer that a five industry spur is named after this one industry.
The curve behind Plymouth Foam Products that leads to Georgia Pacific lumber yard and Minneapolis Auto Auction is sharp yet bulkhead flats and covered auto racks regularly travel over it.
What will the locomotive bring out of Georgia Pacific's building this time?
Nine vehicles raced the train to the crossing after the lights started flashing on Hwy 169.
If your job is to be on the ground throwing the switch into Canton Lumber, it's nice to have a day like this one to do it.
The work is done, the cars are empty, and the Monticello Local is headed home.
More Photos
Canton Lumber
Caterpillar
Independent Millwork
K & K Mfg
Minneapolis Auto Auction
Munson's Mobil Feed
Weber Oil track side
Weber Oil truck side
Turnout to Northern States Power
