A kids activity area with train play tables, crafts, coloring kids and moreDJDance zoneBounce HouseChalk-drawing area Llama experience where guests can feed, pet and take pictures with llamas Large model trains set in miniature landscapes Explore a historic photography exhibitConcessions A rail-themed marketplace with toys, apparel, model trains, photography and other locomotive items will be on display and available for purchase.
Plus, Train Equipment Tours!
Learn about train equipment with up-close views of historic locomotives! Each train features a unique background story:
Twin Cities & Western Railroad GP38‐2 Locomotive
This locomotive is a rebuilt GP38-2 type 2,000 horsepower locomotive built by General Motors Electro Motive Division and owned by Glencoe-based Twin Cities & Western Railroad. Twin Cities & Western began operations on July 27, 1991. In the last three decades, the family-owned company has become Minnesota’s largest short line railroad. It is responsible for moving almost $1.5 billion in goods from Minnesota and South Dakota farms and manufacturers to markets in 39 US states, Canada and Mexico. From Glencoe, Twin Cities & Western trains operate to Minneapolis/St. Paul and west to Milbank, S.D., over 229 miles of track. Twin Cities & Western is one of the leading supporters of Union Depot Train Days, providing a locomotive and moving equipment to the event at no charge since 2016.
Milwaukee Road E9A No. 32A
Milwaukee Road E9A No. 32A was built in 1955 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. It was one of 12 E9A units and six B units built for use on Union Pacific’s “City” streamliners when they switched from the Chicago & North Western to the Milwaukee Road between Chicago and Omaha in 1955. They were also used on other Milwaukee Road trains including several which served Union Depot, such as the Olympian Hiawatha between Chicago, the Twin Cities and Seattle/Tacoma, and the Twin Cities Hiawathas and overnight Pioneer Limited between Chicago and the Twin Cities. No. 32A is one of only four Milwaukee Road E9s known to survive and is now owned by the non-profit Railroading Heritage of Midwest America/Friends of the 261.
BNSF SD9 Locomotive No. 1550
BNSF Railway donated a rebuilt SD9 to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth. BNSF 1550 was built in February 1954 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors for the Great Northern Railway as No. 573. EMD built 515 SD9s between 1954 and 1959. No. 573 worked for many years in Superior, Wis. on the GN ore docks and in ore transfer service. It became Burlington Northern No. 6100 when that railroad was formed in March 1970, and later worked for BN in the Twin Cities area. After BNSF Railway was formed in 1995, No. 6100 was selected for a rebuild program to upgrade it with modern components. It was remanufactured in December 1998 by rebuilder VMV with new electronics, an upgraded engine, air conditioning, and a new cab. It also had its high nose chopped down to allow better visibility. In 2006 it was renumbered BNSF 1710, then in 2009 was renumbered again to BNSF 1550.
Free Historic Tours
If you want a more in-depth experience, there will be FREE historic tours hosted by CynCity Tours. Learn about the history of Union Depot, gangsters that ran St. Paul and about a pesky ghost or two. Tours are both Saturday and Sunday, June 1 & 2.
And Union Depot also has free giant games!
