M&StL: Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway (The Peoria Gateway) Overview

This is the second C&NW predecessor railroad that tripped my "twice and two days" rule for writing notes. Just a few days ago the Omaha Road was the first railroad. Yesterday I saw a bridge for the M&StL, and today I saw a depot for it.

Technically, I should have labeled these notes as "rrOther" because Minneapolis & St. Louis became part of the C&NW after 1928, but the label "rrCaNW" is more informative.

This railroad was acquired by C&NW in 1960. "Always quick to rip up its new acquisitions, the North Western spent the next two decades systematically abandoning most of M&StL's network.  Today, only a few disconnected segments remain in use." [american-rails]

The Rock Island helped it gain access to both Omaha and Chicago.

carli, cropped, 1912

This 1940 map shows that it was using the Illinois Central, instead of the Rock Island, to reach Chicago.

The above 1912 map obviously uses a timecard style. Here is a map that is more geographically accurate.

By Elkman at English Wikipedia - This PNG graphic was created with QGIS., CC BY-SA 3.0,   https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2296561

1 of 2 images posted Michael Maitland
These maps are from a Standard and Poors book, purchased at a train show.

Roger Kujawa posted

I’ve seen some M&STL cars but never saw any locos, trains or cabooses.  It unfortunately was taken over by the C&NW and a lot abandoned.  Imagine if the Soo Line would have bought it?  It could have been another Easter Gateway for the Canadian Pacific.  The SOO/ CP in the Peoria Gateway could have made a positive impact for many of Peoria’s connections like the Conrail, TP&W, Illinois Terminal, and NW. 

Seen on eBay:

1925 Ad * Minneapolis & St Louis Railroad Company * Peoria Gateway *

Michael Massa: ironically the MSTL never went to STL

Minneapolis became a center for milling flour because of the St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. Minneapolis businessmen built this railroad into the rural areas to the west to reduce the transportation cost of the wheat needed by the mills. [slphistory, american-rails] 

James Rogers post via Dennis DeBruler

Roger Kujawa posted
Thanks to Trent Briggs for posting this.

Howard Keil: Isn't this the one with the really good promotional movie (video) on youtube describing how they do their "fast freight"?

Roger Kujawa: Howard Keil yes. The MSTL did that film. It it’s on YouTube.