Historic Rail Cars Visit Hopkins

has always been a landmark that recalled Hopkins’ past, but a line of railroad cars sitting on the nearby tracks the past couple days have added a little extra historic ambience.

The railroad cars are here awaiting the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co. 20th anniversary celebration. The North Shore Scenic Railroad/Lake Superior Railroad Museum loaned the company two double-decker passenger cars and a box car, and Friends of the 261 loaned two passenger cars, said Ken Buehler, the museum and railroad’s executive director.

Twin Cities & Western will first use the historic cars for private, invitation-only excursions, a company spokeswoman said. But on July 30 and July 31, North Shore Scenic Railroad will offer trips open to the general public.

The July 30 excursion will be a roundtrip ride between Chanhassen and Olivia, Buehler said. The July 31 trip will travel between Glencoe and Montevideo.

Both trips leave at 10:30 a.m. and return at about 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $69.65 for adults and $10 for children 3 to 15 years old. They can be purchased on the North Shore Scenic Railroad website or by calling 1-800-423-1273.