I dislike the way some CP trains take other set of tracks at Cottage Grove. That's why I do not railfan there very often.

The only reason why the CP crosses over is because it's jointly owned trackage through there, it all depends on where the BNSF wants to send them. That stretch of rail has been dispatched by the BN ever since the backruptcy of the Milwaukee Road. And when the SOO LINE took over they didn't want the dispatching either, so it went back to the BN and it has stayed there ever since.

You're talking about the "joint line" as it was and is currently known to area railroaders. This section of track comprises all stations between Division Street and St. Croix. For a time in the 70's and early 1980's BN and CMStP&P issued a separate timetable (known as a joint timetable) for this line segment. The idea behind the shared track arrangement was so that each railroad could take advantage of the grade situation. The Joint Timetable No. 19 of 10/31/1980 indicates that the track was considered "double track" and unless otherwise provided by train order, trains kept to the left (i.e. Westbound on the former CB&Q owned track along the river towards Cottage Grove and Newport, and Eastbound on the Milwaukee Road towards St. Croix Tower). ABS was used over the entire length of the joint line, and prior to implementation of full CTC in the mid-80's, it was dispatched by train order (rules 251,252,253,254) with a pocket of CTC between mileposts 403.43 and 406.34 (which lies between Red Rock and Oakland on the Milwaukee (EB) track). Train orders and clearances for the territory between St. Croix and Division Street in the late 70's- early 80's were issued over the signature of the chief dispatcher of the CMStP&P Minnesota-Dakota Division (i.e., the Milwaukee ruled the roost!). Trains today are routed as tonnage and traffic conditions warrant, so there is less emphasis on a strict "Milwaukee Road East to St. Croix and BN West to Newport" traffic routing. Rock Island trains also entered the joint line WB (BN) main track at Newport through a 25 MPH turnout. At one time there were five interlocking towers controlling movements along the 19.2 miles of line located at Division Street, Hoffman Ave, Oakland, Newport and St. Croix. Newport was moved in '84 to the area behind the Newport Model RR club, Hoffman was raized in the spring of 86 (see Trains magazine, October 1986) and for the other three... got some more research to do. Hope that this provides a bit of insight.

Here's a pic of St. Croix Tower, back in the day:



I had a recent shot from the same angle, but can't find it of course.

The bridge the Rock used to get over to the joint line is something to see It's an upper/lower, rail/traffic swing bridge. It's still there, just rusting away.


Tim

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Is there still a diamond at St. Croix Tower? Is that another railroad bridge in the background?

I've walked over that swing bridge from both sides. There's a messed up thing that looks like a toll booth on one side.

Those are great pics. Is any of that stuff still down there and can you get there?? I'm confused as to the swing bridge. Is that crossing the Mississippi or St. Croix and is it still intact?

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It's still there... Just go near that refinery in Saint Paul Park and you should find it. The span is permanently open, though.

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Yes that IS 3M CHEMOLITE. Where the "LEGEND" "GLOWING IN THE DARK "COMES TO LIFE". lol. BUT, it's WHERE you shoot. If you are about 2 miles NORTH of the plant, but "still in site", don't worry. Because you are on city property or RR as far as that goes....