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Railroad
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South/West Terminal
North/East Terminal
Description
Former NP route from Wadena to Barney.
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<p>In 1881, the Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills Railroad (NPF&BH) began construction on a new 75-mile railroad line, extending from Wadena, Minnesota to Breckenridge, Minnesota. The line would be completed by 1882. An additional 42 miles would be completed to Milnor, North Dakota by 1883, and the NPF&BH would be sold to the Northern Pacific Railway (NP) in 1898. By 1900, the NP would complete an additional 33 miles to Oakes, North Dakota in 1900. NP operated this as a secondary route, connecting the main line at Wadena to branch lines in North Dakota. NP operated significant trackage throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and other states.</p><p>In 1970, NP would merge with rival Great Northern Railway (GN) and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). The line was abandoned between Wadena and Henning in 1975, Henning and Battle Lake in 1978, Foxhome to Breckenridge in 1980 and Battle Lake to Fergus Falls in 1983. In 1987, the Whapeton to Oakes segment was sold to the Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW). In 1996, the remaining trackage near Fergus Falls was sold to the Otter Tail Valley Railroad (OTVR). In 2023, RRVW continues to operate the Whapeton to Oakes segment, while the OTVR continues to operate the tracks in Fergus Falls. The remainder has been abandoned.<br></p>
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