GopherRail 2012 has been canceled.
For more info: visit the University of Minnesota's railroad club Website.Valley Park Yard
Valley Park Yard is located on UP's Mankato Subdivision. This line was originally owned by the Chicago & Northwestern subsidary CMSt.P&O, or the Omaha Road. In 1957, the Omaha was fully taken into the C&NW system, and the line has gone through a few different name changes since then. UP has done a lot of work to the line including installation of welded rail, new signals, etcetera. The line is controlled under TWC (Track Warrant Control) and uses radio frequencies 160.890 and 161.040 for the road. Valley Park uses 161.175.
At VP (RR symbol) there usually is 4-6 trains plying the main. Trains also originate and terminate here. The common freights to sight here are the M-VPNP and M-NPVP trains to North Platte, NE and the M-VPPR and M-PRVP trains to Proviso yard in Illinois. Canadian Pacific runs a Shakopee Turn into VP on a regular basis as well, using ex-Kennecott Copper GP39-2's 4598 and 4599 for the job. Remote Control (RCO) switchers, usually GP38-2's, work VP almost daily, usually in the late morning into the afternoon.
The CP Turn and the M-VPNP are easy caught during daylight hours, with the CP train coming in usually in late morning to early afternoon and leaving around early evening. The M-VPNP leaves the yard headed south in the early afternoon. The M-PRVP has been known to arrive about mid-day as well.
This is not much of a scenic spot, as it is in a small industrial area. However, this yard does have some interesting operations like the Remote Control switchers and the CP train. Occasionally, CNW painted units make their way up here, too, making for some good portraits of what once was here.
East End: Follow 13 west through Savage. A little past Savage there will be an exit to Highway 100. Follow it, and take 100 west about 3/4 to 1 mile and turn left on Stagecoach Rd. Follow Stagecoach for 2/3 to 3/4 miles, then park on the north side of the crossing.
West End: Follow 13 west through Savage. A little past Savage there will be an exit to Highway 100. Follow it, and take 100 west about 2 to 3 miles or so and turn left on 70th St. S. Follow 70th about 1/4 mile and find a good spot on the south side of the grade crossing.
East End: Follow 13 west through Savage. A little past Savage there will be an exit to Highway 100. Follow it, and take 100 west about 3/4 to 1 mile and turn left on Stagecoach Rd. Follow Stagecoach for 2/3 to 3/4 miles, then park on the north side of the crossing.
West End: Follow 13 west through Savage. A little past Savage there will be an exit to Highway 100. Follow it, and take 100 west about 2 to 3 miles or so and turn left on 70th St. S. Follow 70th about 1/4 mile and find a good spot on the south side of the grade crossing.
East End: Follow 13 west through Savage. A little past Savage there will be an exit to Highway 100. Follow it, and take 100 west about 3/4 to 1 mile and turn left on Stagecoach Rd. Follow Stagecoach for 2/3 to 3/4 miles, then park on the north side of the crossing.
West End: Follow 13 west through Savage. A little past Savage there will be an exit to Highway 100. Follow it, and take 100 west about 2 to 3 miles or so and turn left on 70th St. S. Follow 70th about 1/4 mile and find a good spot on the south side of the grade crossing.
West End: Take 100 east to 70th St. S. and make a right onto 70th. Go south on 70th for approximately 1/4 mile and cross the grade crossing. Choose a spot on the south side of the crossing.
East End: Take 100 east to Stagecoach Rd. Turn right onto Stagecoach and follow it for approximately 2/3 to 3/4 mile. Park somewhere close and be on the North side of the grade crossing.