Eastern Railway of Minnesota

The Eastern Railway of Minnesota (commonly known as the "Eastern Minnesota Railroad", "Duluth Short Line" or simply "The Eastern") was a railway company that operated in the US states of Minnesota and Wisconsin between 1887 and 1907. Its main line ran between Superior, Wisconsin and Hinckley, Minnesota, roughly parallel with the St Paul & Duluth Railroad's line between Hinckley and Duluth. It appears that both railroads used each other's equipment and facilities on a frequent basis. It also had a short branch line at Sandstone, Minnesota which served the town's logging mill. During its later years, the Eastern was controlled by the Great Northern Railway, which ultimately purchased and absorbed the railway entirely in 1907. It existed as a private entity with no physical equipment or property until 1959, when it was dissolved. Today, the Eastern's line is in service as part of BNSF's Hinckley Subdivision.