Twin Ports trains

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Twin Ports Trains

The Historic railroads of Duluth & Superior, 1870–1970

by Tony Dierckins & Jeff Lemke

A STORY LARGER THAN ANY ONE RAILROAD
From 1870, the first time the whistle of a Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad locomotive announced its arrival along St. Louis Bay, to the demise of passenger service in 1970 and fifty years beyond through the mergers that created today’s giants, Twin Ports Trains tells the stories of Duluth, Minnesota’s and Superior, Wisconsin’s historic railroads: how they helped develop both cities, worked hand in glove with the industries that drove the local economy, served the public’s transportation needs, and literally reshaped the lower St. Louis River.

Hardcover | 224 Pages | 280+ Illustrations | 10 x 8 inches

praise for twin port trains

“It would be hard to overstate the importance of railroads in shaping the Twin Ports as we know them, and the authors of Twin Ports Trains have performed an invaluable service in collecting a vast amount of information in a single, accessible volume that’s sure to become a go-to guide for everyone curious about Duluth and Superior history. Twin Ports Trains will fascinate both casual rail fans and hard-core foamers.”

— Jay Gabler, Arts and Entertainment Reporter, Duluth News Tribune

“Twin Ports Trains is more than just the fascinating history of railroading at the Head of the Lakes. The anecdotes and personal biographies of the men and women who influenced and built the railroads here introduces a whole new dynamic for telling the story of why we are here and how the railroads made that possible.”

— Ken Buehler, General Manager of the North Shore Scenic Railroad and Executive Director, Lake Superior Railroad Museum

“Twin Ports Trains will make a welcome addition to the bookshelf of those interested in railroad history and general industrial development at the Head of the Lakes. Authors Dierckins and Lemke have compiled a wealth of historical facts along with numerous images and maps that expertly tell the rich story of railroading in Duluth-Superior.”

— Dave Schauer, President Emeritus, Missabe Railroad Historical Society

about the authors

Jeff Lemke spent thirteen years working in the railroad industry, ending his career in 2017 as a BNSF Railway conductor and locomotive servicing engineer, as well as fifty years steeped in Duluth-Superior railroad history, researching, lecturing, and writing articles for various railroad historical society publications and other print and online publications. Along the way he amassed a remarkable collection of historic Twin Ports railroading photographs and served as research specialist for Overland Models, Inc., designing more than four hundred model trains based on prototypes of actual trains operating in Duluth-Superior. See his work at JEFF LEMKE TRAINS.

Learn more about author and Zenith City Press publisher TONY DIERCKINS HERE.