RailNews

MLW RS-23 80 is assigned to subsidiary Commercial Transload of Minnesota. As of 2023, it is the last working Alco or MLW on the MNNR roster. Photo by Robert Ball

Alco Era Drawing to a Close on Minnesota Commercial

By Justin Franz

It appears the Alco/MLW era is drawing to a close on Minnesota Commercial (MNNR). The Twin Cities short line recently put its two RS-27 locomotives (the only ones still in existence) and lone RS-18u into storage. According to local railfans, the stacks have been capped and a revival is unlikely.

The move to put those three locomotives into storage means that there is only one Alco or MLW product left on the active roster, RS-23 80, which is assigned to switch a warehouse in Fridley, Minn. The MLW was built for Canadian Pacific.

At one time, MNNR had a notable fleet of Alco and MLW products, including a C-424, M-420 and M-636. However, in recent years, General Electric locomotives have become the preferred motive power for the short line. One of the last jobs to regularly get Alcos/MLWs was the Hennepin Job. Until recently it often was led by either the RS-18u or one of the RS-27s.

The Alco/MLWs currently stored on the railroad include, M-420 35 (ex-Canadian National), M-636 71 (ex-Canadian Pacific), RS-18u 83 (ex-CP), and RS-27s 316 and 318 (ex-Chicago & Northwestern and Green Bay & Western).

Additional reporting by Nick Benson.