Awoke to a pretty day at Chippewa Campground. We really enjoyed having a lakefront campsite.

Though we heard loons and sandhill cranes overnight, we only spotted a family of mallards paddling by this morning.

On the road at 0800, it wasn’t long before we paused for a construction delay. Sitting in traffic, we were passed by this friendly couple on a unique tandem bicycle.

Just before noon we rolled into Duluth passing another pedal powered vehicle. The lift bridge allows big Lake Freighters to access Lake Superior from the well protected Duluth-Superior harbor. Built in 1905 as a ferry bridge, it was converted to a lift bridge in 1929.

Parking near the 1892 Duluth Union Depot, we were pleased to find it is open to the public.

Once hosting 50 trains a day, the last passenger service rolled out in 1969. Thankfully the building was purchased by the county and it serves as a community center and exhibit space.

My main reason for returning to Duluth is that we didn’t stop at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum on our prior visit to the city. Beth indulged me this time. I’ll excercise restraint and only share about ten photos from the camera card full of images we brought home.

Much of the museum is indoors, so can be accessed year-round.

Wooden passenger cars from the 1800’s still have an air of elegance. Hand painted panels, mirrors, and opening clerestory windows brighten the interior of this observation car.

A rare steam powered wrecking crane was fun to see. Built in 1913, it lifted and re-railed cars and engines at the site of railroad wrecks.

Looking like a model, this 1870 wood burning Porter steam engine was built for the Northern Pacific.

Several electric engines, like this 1928 GE Steeple Cab, and the 1915 Box Cab behind it, were open for exploring.

Loved the etchings on the window glass of the Duluth Zephyr‘s “Silver Club” dome car. This stainless steel streamliner was originally built in 1948 for the California Zephyr. You can ride it in local excursions along the Lake Superior shoreline.

This tiny 1931 industrial switcher was one of only eight built by the Mack Truck Company.

Some of the engines and rolling stock were open. This is the passage of Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2.  I’d never been inside a Rotary Snow Plow before. It was probably a very hot job as it is almost all boiler.

Stepping outside, we could see the impressive blades of this rotary plow. Museum signage informed us that the plow, “Constructed by the Cooke Locomotive Works in 1887, is the oldest of its type in existence.”

One of my favorite vehicles was this Studebaker Rail Inspection Car. It would be great fun to have this for exploring abandoned rail lines. 

Leaving town, we passed the Great Lakes Aquarium. Looks like we have another reason to return!

At quarter to three we left the city of Duluth in the rear view mirror. 

Only 23 miles east is Amnicon Falls State Park. Even after stopping at a grocery store we pulled into the campground by four o’clock.

Our campsite (#12), with a picnic table and a bench, was $21 for the one night. Water was available at several spigots and there were three sets of vault toilets for the 35 sites. It is the kind of campground where we are thankful to be self-contained with our own power and water.

 

Long summer days left us plenty of time to enjoy walking the pretty Waterfall Trail. Three waterfalls are reached in just the first quarter mile, making them accessible to almost anyone.