"We got it up to full steam last year... and pulled into the station in June," says author Tony Dierckins of finalizing and publishing Twin Ports Trains: The Historic Railroads of Duluth & Superior 1870-1970. For the last several years, Dierckins and co-author Jeff Lemke navigated their way through busy schedules and Covid to get the book on the shelf earlier this month.
The Twin Ports were an area isolated from the rest of the state with no easy route from the Twin Cities. The railroad changed all of that, making Duluth a powerful rail/sail locale. "Here we are at the head of the lakes - nobody else is around us," says Dierckins of the success that arose upon the rails arriving in Duluth 154 years ago.
Twin Ports Trains includes almost 300 historic photographs, as well as maps and detailed content about the process and people behind the investment, construction and impact of the railroad.
Tony Dierckins will be at Zenith Bookstore this Saturday, August 17th from 11am-1pm for a book signing. The book is also available through Zenith City Press.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
