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The Milwaukee Road's train station in Minneapolis is being restored/modified to provide commercial space. If you look past the construction heaps you will see the train shed (with half of the new roof done) with the station at the far end.

The station's exterior has been kept in pretty good repair over the years. They are doing serious interior work, which will hopefully retain much of the character of the original furnishings while providing usable space for a modern business (hotel).

From the other end you can see to old freight house in the foreground, with the passenger station behind.  This view is looking southeast about one block from the Mississippi River.

====== The Stone Arch Bridge across the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis ======
The bridge was built by J. J. Hill in 1883 for the Minneapolis Union Railway, a predecessor to the Great Northern and Northern Pacific roads. The glaring gap in the middle was created by the Army Corps of Engineers as they built the locks and dam. Railway use of the bridge ceased in the late '70s and is now used by the tourist trolleys, bikers and pedestrians. In the foreground you can see the archeological digs uncovering the grain milling heritage of Minneapolis.
 

 

 

 

This building is in an industrial complex known as Empire Park near the Jackson Street roundhouse, and just north of St. Paul.  Its railroad heritage is pretty obvious, isn't it?

 

Two of these coach shops still stand. They each had about 15 tracks running cross-wise, and each track could hold a couple of cars.

 

 

I believe this building was a machine shop that provided services to the adjacent coach shops.

 

Here is an ex-C&NW building on the northeast side of Minneapolis. It was formerly a freight house, and has been converted into a pricey condo.

 

Another coach shop in the background, with a water tower at the end of the transfer table pit. The steamer is an ex Grand Trunk Western 0-8-0

The Como Shops were the Northern Pacific's passenger car maintenance base.  The complex is now called Bandana Square, and the buildings house a hotel, office space, restaurants, and shops.  Two significant shops are a train store and a large model railroad layout.  It is located between Minneapolis and St. Paul on the BNSF mainline.

 

Another view of the machine shop. I always liked the row of chimneys - gives it a nice but unusual look.

 

 

 

Another view of the building in Empire Park.

 

 

The transfer table took cars from a position in one coach shop (behind) and moved them to another position in the next shop. A car would move from shop to shop, with shops specializing in tear-outs, structural and mechanical improvements, and interior work (walls, chairs, beds, etc.)

 

This building was part of the Como complex, but is currently sitting idle. I wonder if it will survive?

 

 

This is the Soo roundhouse at Shoreham Yard in north Minneapolis. It has tottered on the edge of destruction for years, but has recently been designated a historical site. But, the struggle isn't over yet - the Soo was taken over by the Canadian Pacific which isn't real anxious to sell the site.  And potential buyers haven't been able to offer a plan that appears solid financially.  Stay Tuned!