It enters the Lake Minnetonka area, and passes by Stubbs Bay. (Owners pictures above.) Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. It enters a tunnel under I-494, and goes by several industries afterward. It intersects several mountain bike trails, and ends at Theodore Wirth Parkway. In the next year, the C&NW asked to abandon the railroad from Hutchinson to Plymouth. It's located in Minnesota, United States. A short track was installed within Minneapolis, and westward construction began in 1913. The paved trail includes about 21 miles, from the west Carver County line, through Hutchinson, to the west McLeod County line, just outside of town. Not surprisingly, as rural roadways improved, the need for passenger service diminished. Starting in 1913, there were plans for a north-south rail line to be built through French Lake and South Haven, a few miles west of Annandale. Construction continued from Glenwood Junction in Minneapolis to Stubbs Bay on Lake Minnetonka, then further west to the communities of Watertown, Winsted, and Silver Lake until reaching Hutchinson in 1915. It connected rural communities in western Minnesota to the Twin Cities and offered transportation for passengers, lumber, grain, and other commodities. The company petitioned to abandon the segment of the railroad from Hutchinson to Gluek in 1967. It crosses MN 4 and MN 7, and will parallel MN 7 for 24.5 miles (39.4 km). Luce Line Crossing (GC19F1M) was created by tonka_boy on 2/17/2008. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 1, terrain of 1.5. The scenery begins to be more suburban, and it crosses local roads. Luce Line Trail. 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Although the Luce Line is now a recreational trail, it was originally created for the railroad industry. The C&NW physically removed the line shortly after approval was granted. [6], 20 miles (32 km) of the DNR Segment was paved in 2014, from Winsted to Hutchinson. It changes directions a few times and goes into the small hamlet of Lyndale in Independence. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, birding, and road biking and is best used from March until October. The Luce Line Electric Line Railroad was first charted in 1908. The tornado took a straight path covering a distance of 4 miles touching down at the Back of the apple orchard, lifted over the house and barn touching down again, traveling on “Porters nature trail” and ending at the back of the trail. [5], The Electric Short Line Railway was a system that was built from 1917-1927. By 1942, passenger trains typically required only one railcar. The limestone surfaced trail runs from Plymouth 30 miles west to Winsted, with a parallel treadway for horseback riding. In early 1960, the M&STL renamed the Minnesota Western railroad the Minneapolis Industrial Railway. It extended from Minneapolis to Gluek, and it served the small towns in between. This former railroad line is 63 miles long and travels from Cedar Mills to Plymouth. It passes into Gleason Lake. It crosses Winnetka Avenue and turns south to avoid the Golden Valley Country Club. Cedar Mills; Cosmos; Hutchinson; Independence/Lyndale; Long Lake; Maple Plain; Minnetrista; Mound; It goes by a parking lot at Vega Avenue. At this stage, the portion of the line east of Glenwood Junction in Minneapolis was the Electric Short Line Terminal Company, with new construction to the west called the Electric Short Line Railway. Uneven terrain with small rocks or roots. Member donations are crucial to the work of our nonprofit newsroom. Home; Trail Map; History. It goes south, and parallels US 12 for a while. History. That condition opened the door for converting the railroad line into a recreational trail, and interested citizens seized the opportunity. The project cost $2.2 million, and is the longest paved section built at one time by the DNR. The C&NW was a much larger company and therefore had little use for the small Luce Line. It enters the Medicine Lake area. Aug. 7, 1908 Electric Short Line Railroad Company started and land was acquired in Minneapolis. How to help Before the Trail; The Trail Itself; Winsted Centennial Book; Luce Line Railroad; Blog; Along the Way. The DNR hopes to paved the entire trail east of Hutchinson. Mostly flat. For the former raiload, see, A natural surface portion of the trail in, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, "Luce Line Regional Trail Project | Three Rivers Park District", "Section by section, Luce Line trail dream realized", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luce_Line_Trail&oldid=990403574, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Cycling, pedestrians, snowmobiles, equestrian, This page was last edited on 24 November 2020, at 08:30. Here are some accounts of the trail’s colorful history: • Before the Trail. By 1972, the line extended from Minneapolis to Plymouth, with the remaining 104 miles of the line to Gluek now abandoned and removed as scrap. 275 4th St E, Suite 250 St. Paul MN 55101-1626. The Luce Line Railroad, known by several different names, was a small rural Minnesota railroad that operated through much of the twentieth century. By this time, the line offered passenger service through a small fleet of motorcars that ran in both directions along the line. The line would often build around the outskirts of existing towns instead. The engine shown is most likely gasoline-electric driven. [7], This article is about a shared-use pathway in Minnesota, United States. The Electric Short Line Railway was a system that was built from 1917-1927. Sizable rocks & roots. The Luce Line Regional Trail operated by the Three Rivers Park District connects to the state trail, but runs on roads and paths that roughly parallel what remains of the Luce Electric Lines. It crosses several defunct railroad crossings. The route connected rural communities in western Minnesota to the Twin Cities and offered transportation for passengers, lumber, grain, and other commodities. It goes under US 169. The distinction did not last long; nor did “electric” have any meaning, as the line could never afford overhead electrification. It passes under Brown Road, and over Orono Orchard Road. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/luce-line-regional-trail Construction continued to Gluek in 1927, but by December of that year, the Luce family sold their interests to the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway. 5.0 (1) Areas; MN … Minneapolis - St. Paul; Plymouth “ A long multi-use trail with lots to see along the way. It parallels the Crow River and passes under several bridges, including MN 15. This section ends at Vicksburg Lane. The first construction began in 1913 and included 8 … The Luce Line State Trail is a 63 mile long former railroad grade which is developed for biking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and skiing. The new trail was completed west of Plymouth after the line was abandoned. • … By 1917, there were nearly seventy-one miles of track on the line, including areas that were double tracked. My personal favorite is the nature trail that leads us out around the cows and donkeys. After the railroad ceased operations, the DNR acquired parts of the corridor to create the state’s first nature trail in 1970. It crosses the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and crosses under MN 100 and avoids a pond by circling south. The Luce Line Railroad built a line westward from Minneapolis. The plan was to build a profitable rail line linking Minneapolis to Brookings, South Dakota including many unserved farming communities along the way. It also ran freight trains using second-hand steam locomotives from larger railroads. At this point, the trail leaves the town and is undeveloped with a natural surface. MinnPost | P.O. In the 1900s, W.L. It enters Watertown, and crosses the Crow River. They argued that the Soo Line in the eastern metro area would be the perfect counterpart to the Luce Line recreational trail in the western metro area. It goes by Schaper Park and goes into Theodore Wirth Park. I enjoy hearing the history of LuceLine Orchard and surrounding land on the ride. The trail is paved in Hutchinson going east through Winsted. The Luce Line Trail was one of the first rail-trails in Minnesota, with planning of the trail beginning almost immediately after the CNW abandoned the rail line between Plymouth and Hutchinson. Description From the heart of the city, to the doorstep of the great Minnesota Prairie, the Luce Line Regional Trail is your link from urban to rural. For more info and trail closure areas please visit our website. Construction began in 1909 and continued slowly over the next four years. It becomes paved and goes by Otter Lake as it enters Hutchinson. • The Trail Itself. One of the many great features of Hutchinson is that the Luce Line State Trail runs right through town. Email Us Our reporters are only able to do their work thanks to support at all levels. The original intent was to have the Luce line be electrically driven but the overhead wires were never installed. Trail construction was completed on certain segments in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It passes just north of Wayzata, and tunnels under CSAH 101. The Luce Line trail is a 63 mile limestone path stretching from Cosmos in western Minnesota to Wirth park. It intersects the Medicine Lake Regional Trail, and parallels 13th Avenue. On August 7, 1908, Colonel William L. Luce and his son, Erle D. Luce, incorporated the Electric Short Line Railroad. In 1913, rail was laid westward between Minneapolis and Parkers Lake. Luce Line Cruise Trail is a 17.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Hutchinson, Minnesota that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Do you hike, bike, snowmobile, or ride horseback? Their plan was to build a railroad from Minneapolis to Brookings, South Dakota, linking many farm communities as yet unserved by a railroad . It connected rural communities in western Minnesota to the Twin Cities and offered transportation for passengers, lumber, grain, and other commodities. The Chicago and Northwestern (C&NW) purchased the Minneapolis and St. Louis itself later that year on November 1, 1960. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board manages the easternmost section of Luce Line Regional Trail in Theodore Wirth Regional Park. The trailway dates back to the old Electric Short Line of 1908, which moved goods and passengers in and out of the Twin Cities. The line reached both Cosmos and Lake Lillian in 1923. Moderately steep. It goes south of Swan Lake and into Silver Lake. After 10 miles (16 km), it reaches Cedar Mills and transforms into an aggregate surface. About mid point of Luce Line Rail Trail. The road thus became freight only as of September 10, 1947, when the last passenger train ran. . This multi-use trail has that all covered! Luce Line history highlights. The western segment ends at County Road 20. East of Vicksburg Lane, it is maintained by the Three Rivers Park District and named Luce Line Regional Trail. The Luce Line was built relatively late in comparison to other lines and serviced already-established cities. The new trail was completed west of Plymouth after the line was abandoned. The Luce Line Trail is a legacy of railroads that traveled from Minneapolis through Winsted to Gluek in the 1900s . It leaves Watertown and goes by several lakes. The previous line extended 104 miles (167 km) to Gluek. Most of the remaining right of way west of Plymouth became a public recreational trail for bicycling, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Luce Line Trail is a 74.9-mile (120.5 km), shared-use path in Minnesota, United States, that stretches from Cosmos to Minneapolis. The Luce Line State Trail follows the corridor of a former railroad line and has been maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) since 1976. It crosses under MN 55 and turns slightly southeast. Trains traveled between terminal in Minneapolis (near the present Target Center) and Glenwood Junction, which was the western city limits. It crosses county roads 92, 110, and 19, and south of Maple Plain. It leaves Plymouth Avenue and goes back to the railway tracks. The Luce Line Regional Trail travels through Schaper Park in Golden Valley at Ottawa Avenue N. The park includes an all-inclusive play area and a fitness challenge course with obstacles to navigate over, under, around and through as you race against the clock. It crosses Xenium Lane on a bridge and leaves the industrial area. It passes US 12 and the railroad tracks, and Wayzata Boulevard on a restored bridge. Gluek was to be the permanent western terminus of the “Luce Line” or Electric Short Line, known by this time as the Minnesota Western. The Luce family encountered financial difficulty in the form of foreclosure and reorganized the line as the Minnesota Western on May 1, 1924. Train to trail history. Of course, first thing to do in Winsted: Find coffee and maybe lunch. Flat. The Luce Line State Trail. Located just off the Luce Line Trail in Independence, the executive 2.5 – 8 acre homesites are set on a stunning wooded landscape with close proximity to the shores of Lake Minnetonka and Lake Independence. The line offered several passenger trains between both ends of the route and hauled freight in each direction, servicing a number of rural industries along the right of way. By now you know the Luce Line Trail originally began as a railroad line. It leaves town and crosses over MN 22 on a bridge. It passes south of Parkers Lake and has several spur trails serving the lake and the surrounding neighborhoods. Some uneven terrain. Although the line now extended 115 miles between Minneapolis and Gluek, additional construction ceased because continued funding was not available. It is available for Biking, hiking, running, jogging, and snow activities in specified areas. For more information on this topic, check out the original entry on MNopedia. The Luce Line State Trail stretches 63 miles (from Plymouth to Cosmos) and is a popular attraction for bikers, hikers, snowmobilers, and equestrian enthusiasts. The Luce Line Trail occupies the former railbed of the Electric Short Line Railroad, started in 1908. Although late by most standards, the Luce family intended to build a railroad that would connect rural Minnesota communities that were still without rail service by creating a line to Brookings, South Dakota. The limestone surfaced trail runs from Plymouth 30 miles west to Winsted, with a parallel treadway for horseback riding and other non-motorized uses. It continues due east, and passes by several roads. Few obstacles. Luce, had plans to build a railroad from Minneapolis to Brookings, SD. It runs 63 miles, from the western metro suburb of Plymouth to the small town of Cosmos in west-central Minnesota. It extended from Minneapolis to Gluek, and it served the small towns in between. This happens for about 0.25 miles (0.40 km), and then the trail goes over two boardwalks. Luce Line Regional Trail Easy. The line to Plymouth eventually became part of the Union Pacific railroad, in April 1995. WINSTED, MN – For more than half a century, trains blew their whistle while rumbling into Winsted on the Luce Line, named after the Luce family of Minneapolis. . It was renamed Luce Line after the family who owned and extended it as far as Lake Lillian. This trail is an exceptional way to explore neighborhoods and destinations west of the city. Toggle navigation Luce Line State Trail The Official Site for the Luce Line Trail. Luce and his son, E.D. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. [2] The multi-use trail has varying surface features, though it is primarily made up of crushed limestone or aggregate base, and the section from Cosmos to Cedar Mills is undeveloped, as are the sections from just west of Hutchinson to Winsted and east of Plymouth. Past this point, no snowmobiles are allowed. The Three Rivers Park District regional trail segment is 9 miles (14 km) long. The trail begins in Cosmos, by Thompson Lake. The tornado took a straight path covering a distance of 4 miles touching down at the Back of the apple orchard, lifted over the house and barn touching down again, traveling on “Porters nature trail” […] The communities served by the Luce Line provided few passengers. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. Just west of Winsted, the trail turns south on a new section to avoid the Winsted Airport. The state of Minnesota subsequently granted approval. While the rail line was abandoned west of Plymouth in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it’s still active between Plymouth and Minneapolis. The Luce Line Regional and State Trails travel about 70 miles altogether, connecting the Minneapolis park system with suburbs and rural communities west of Minneapolis. Luceline Orchard History – Storm Report Storm Report -Update provided by Terri LuceLine Orchard was hit by a tornado on Friday July 17th at about 11:00 pm. For those looking to hike, run, or bike, the 75 mile urban Luce Line Trail offers a fantastic long-distance outdoor area that extends throughout the Minneapolis area. [4][3], East of Vicksburg Lane, the trail is called the Luce Line Regional Trail and is managed by Three Rivers Park District. "Crazi On The Lake" turned out to be place for both. Phone: 651-726-2457 or 800-944-0707. History of Luce Line Submitted by John Marvig, taken from Luce Line Trail Website. [3], After following Winsted streets, the trail passes south of Winsted Lake and a parking lot. He is a freelance writer and Spanish interpreter and translator. Passenger service stopped in 1947, and in 1956 … Aaron Hanson studied history and Spanish at the University of Michigan and Illinois State University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Foreign Languages. The eastern segment is 37 miles (60 km) long. There are so many personal touches of decor to enjoy on the trail. The railway changed hands a few times before being abandoned throughout the late 1960s to early 1970s. The trail was built after the railroad was dismantled in 1995. Steam locomotives were phased out, and only diesel engines hauled freight. It turns east again, paralleling Country Club Drive and turns north on Douglas Drive. Build your new construction home at Hamilton Century Farm in Independence, MN. The Luce family encountered financial difficulty in the form of foreclosure and reorganized the line as the Minnesota Western on May 1, 1924. Due to right of way issues, the trail narrows to about half of its width. The tracks continued to be expanded into the late 1920s, when the rail line became known as the Minnesota Western. The trail was built after the railroad was dismantled in 1995. For this reason, it did not create new rural communities. Proposed North-South Luce Line Railroad through French Lake. In 1908, W. L. Luce and his son, E. D. Luce, incorporated the Electric Short Line Railroad Company in Arizona. With more than 8 Prinsburg trails covering 158 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Luce Line Trail or Rocori Trail. Owned by Union Pacific since their acquisition of the Chicago & North Western in 1995, it serves several local shippers in the Plymouth and Golden Valley area with a single daily train. • Winsted Centennial Book. Storm Report-Update provided by Terri LuceLine Orchard was hit by a tornado on Friday July 17th at about 11:00 pm. The railway changed hands a few times before being abandoned throughout the late 1960s to early 1970s. Explore the best trails in Prinsburg, Minnesota on TrailLink. The Luce Line Railroad, known by several different names, was a small rural Minnesota railroad that operated through much of the twentieth century. It leaves Minnesota Highway 7 and continues northeast, and intersects several farm roads. The Luce Line Trail is a state-established trail maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Luce Line first reached Winsted, MN on February 13, 1915, possibly captured by this photo. 1913 to 1916 The eastern segment is 33 miles (53 km) long. The trails are a mix of gravel and paved, and they run through forests, urban areas, and more rural sections, offering hikers a variety of options depending on where they start and end the hike. The line did not reach Brookings, South Dakota, and never went any further west. There is a parking lot, a campground, and facilities. It passes under Minnesota Highway 7 again, and continues east. [1] The trail system was built after 1995, when the Luce Line Railroad was abandoned west of Interstate 494. The Electric Short Line Railway and the affiliated Electric Short Line Railroad (later renamed the Electric Short Line Terminal Co.) were incorporated in late 1908. In 1956, the much larger Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway (the M&STL), a Midwestern agricultural carrier, purchased the Minnesota Western from the Cargill company. The trail is maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources west of Vicksburg Lane where it is named Luce Line State Trail. 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