Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway/EMD advert, 1950s

Jointed rail and wooden ties on main lines has for the last few decades been steadily replaced by welded rail and concrete ties.

The Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway was a Class I railroad that built and operated lines radiating south and west from Minneapolis, Minnesota. It existed for 90 years from 1870 to 1960 when it was acquired by the Chicago and North Western Railway, and much of its former trackage was later abandoned.