Staples Subdivision

The Staples Subdivision or Staples Sub is a railway line running about 227 miles (365 km) from Dilworth to Fridley, Minnesota (near Minneapolis). It is operated by BNSF Railway as part of their Northern Transcon and contains the busiest segment of mainline track in the state, the segment between Coon Rapids and Fridley. As of 2015, most of the route hosted an average of 60 trains per day, and there were 80 trains per day near Fridley.[1] The line meets the KO Subdivision in the west at East Dilworth, and runs to Interstate in Fridley, at the limits of Northtown Yard. Beyond Northtown, the rails continue as the Midway Subdivision and St. Paul Subdivision.[2][3][4] U.S. Highway 10 closely follows the rail line for a majority of the distance between Dilworth and Fridley, Minnesota.

BNSF Northtown Classification Yard (looking South towards Minneapolis)
BNSF Northtown Classification Yard (looking North into Fridley)
Northstar Commuter Train passing through Northtown yard
BNSF Railway
Staples Subdivision
250.2
East Dilworth
spur to Felton
248.8
Glyndon
236.1
Witherow
234.4
Hawley
230.6
Manitoba Junction
spur
222.0
Lake Park
217.2
Audubon
213.6
Richards Spur
210.1
Detroit Lakes
Frazee
189.3
Perham
178.5
New York Mills
Bluffton
former Northern Pacific branch
165.6
Wadena
spur
159.0
Verndale
Aldrich
150.1
Dower Lake
148.0
Staples
140.2
147.8
134.0
Philbrook
127.8
Lincoln
Cushing
116.5
Randall
110.8
Darling
spur
106.0
Little Falls
103.3
Gregory
former Soo Line
now Soo Line Trail
95.7
Royalton
88.7
Rice
Watab
78.4
Sartell
Sauk Rapids
73.9
St. Cloud
and Northern Lines Railway
Cable
62.7
Clear Lake
57.5
Becker
47.0
Big Lake
38.6
Elk River
Elk River
Ramsey
26.8
Anoka
Coon Rapids - Riverdale
21.1
Coon Creek
Fridley
15.5
Interstate
East Interstate
13.9
Northtown Yard
Platform of the Fridley Northstar station looking South towards Minneapolis

This subdivision is mostly double track with only 2 segments of single track. An approximately three mile segment of single track exists between Gregory and Little Falls and sees the crossing of the Mississippi River. The second, approximately 25 mile segment of single track, runs between Darling and Philbrook with sidings at Randall and Lincoln. As of March 2016, there are no immediate plans to double track these remaining portions of single track.[5]

BNSF Twin Cities Division office at Northtown Yards

This line has hosted Amtrak's Empire Builder since 1979, and the train makes stops along the Staples Subdivision in St. Cloud, Staples, and Detroit Lakes. Since November 2009, it has also hosted the Northstar Line commuter train, with stops in Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey, Elk River, and Northstar's home terminal in Big Lake.

This line also features connections to two subdivisions heading to Duluth, Minnesota. The Brainerd Subdivision breaks off to the east in Staples, while the Hinckley Subdivision runs north from Coon Creek Junction in Coon Rapids. Mileposts are counted from near the Saint Paul Union Depot for the southern half of the line from Fridley to near Staples, but northwest of Staples, distance is measured from Duluth.[6]

References

  1. Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (January 2015). "Minnesota Freight Railroad Map" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  2. Don Winter. "Fargo to Staples". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  3. Don Winter. "Staples to Coon Creek". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  4. Don Winter. "Coon Creek to University". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  5. "BNSF Announces Capital Programs in Minnesota and New Mexico". Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  6. Don Winter. "Staples to Carlton". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
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