NorthlandTrains
National Train Day (10 Years Ago)
On National Train Day, 10 years ago, GN SD45 #400, "Hustle Muscle" made the special trip from St Paul Union Depot to Osceola, WI for the first of two seasons operating on lease from GNRHS to MTM. GN 400 was displayed at MTM for several years before a deal was made to have GN 400 fill in for MTM's out of service GP7 559 in 2015 and 2016.
Here, Hustle Muscle and coach 1213 depart Withrow, MN and are nearing the end of the journey, now on "home rails" of the Dresser Sub after traversing BNSF and CP trackage from the cities.
The two were displayed on the platform at SPUD for National Train Day before ferrying over, joining the already operational fleet in Osceola.
GN 400 would prove to be a moody locomotive during her stay at Osceola, but had some memorable outings (many of which I was able to be a part of during my time as train crew at MTM). After receiving a new 20-645 a few years later, she would move back to Duluth where it remains at the time of posting (2025).
National Train Day (10 Years Ago)
On National Train Day, 10 years ago, GN SD45 #400, "Hustle Muscle" made the special trip from St Paul Union Depot to Osceola, WI for the first of two seasons operating on lease from GNRHS to MTM. GN 400 was displayed at MTM for several years before a deal was made to have GN 400 fill in for MTM's out of service GP7 559 in 2015 and 2016.
Here, Hustle Muscle and coach 1213 depart Withrow, MN and are nearing the end of the journey, now on "home rails" of the Dresser Sub after traversing BNSF and CP trackage from the cities.
The two were displayed on the platform at SPUD for National Train Day before ferrying over, joining the already operational fleet in Osceola.
GN 400 would prove to be a moody locomotive during her stay at Osceola, but had some memorable outings (many of which I was able to be a part of during my time as train crew at MTM). After receiving a new 20-645 a few years later, she would move back to Duluth where it remains at the time of posting (2025).