Albert Lea, MN: Milwaukee Depot and Railroad Hub

(Satellite)

Tom Nelson posted
C.M. & St. P. Depot, Albert Lea, MN. 1916.

A Tom Nelson URL

A Tom Nelson URL

Albert Lea was a significant railroad hub. Milwaukee, Minneapolis & St. Louis (later C&NW) and Rock Island all had three spokes meeting here. And IC terminated here.

1954 Albert Lea Quadrangle @ 1:62,500

The route to the Southeast was shared by C&NW/M&StL (yellow), Rock Island (green) and IC. (I did not include a color for IC because I don't know where it terminated in the city.) Milwaukee is blue.

1954 Albert Lea Quadrangle @ 1:62,500

Today, Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DME) shares the southeastern route with CP and UP. UP chose the RI to the Northeast and DME has the C&NW to the Northwest. The Southwest spokes for both the RI and C&NW are now abandoned. The branch of the Milwaukee turning Northwest on the west side of the town is also abandoned.

John Harker posted
A C&NW south bound freight with SD40-2 6890 leading was just about to cross the diamond with the Milw in Albert Lea, MN on January 24th, 1984. The diamond was just east of South Newton Ave, This scene with the interlocking tower looks to the northeast. The C&NW freight was traveling on the Spine Line or the ex Rock Island Short Line. Mark Simonson captured this scene. John Harker editing and collection
Bob Johnson: Unless something has changed, that Tower is still there, but it is a Signal Maintainer Office. It was in the list of structures to be torn down at least 5 or more years ago, but I don't know the current status.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Bob's comment
The tower is there as of Aug 2023, but many of the windows are broken.   https://maps.app.goo.gl/cDQ9LVkfi8sHts8VA

John Harker posted
C G Wallenmeyer captured this scene with a RI south freight being pulled by GP38-2 4317 and GP18 1352 at Albert Lea, Minnesota in April 1978.  The train was just about to cross the RI / Milw diamond near the tower.  This view from South Newton Avenue looked to the northeast just south of downtown.  And it must have been a rainy, overcast day.  John Harker photo editing and collection.