Lakes Subdivision

The Lakes Subdivision or Lakes Sub is a railway line operated by BNSF Railway that runs about 157 miles (253 km) from the Grand Forks Subdivision at Cass Lake, Minnesota, to Superior, Wisconsin, where there are a number of lines. U.S. Highway 2 runs parallel to the line for most of its route. U.S. 2 continues across the St. Louis River east of Brookston, while the rail line stays on the southern bank of the river. Prior to the creation of BNSF, the line was operated by the Burlington Northern Railroad as part of their Lake Superior Division.[1] Today, it is operated by BNSF's Twin Cities Division.

BNSF Railway Lakes Subdivision
to Duluth, Minnesota 5.4 mi Superior 7.6 54th Street 8.8 Central Avenue 9.4 M&J Junction 10.3 Saunders 12.6 Boylston, Wisconsin to Hinckley Subdivision Wisconsin Minnesota 34.0 Chub Lake, Minnesota 35.0 Carlton Junction to Brainerd Subdivision 41.1 Cloquet 50.0 Draco 57.7 Brookston to Casco Subdivision 75.6 Floodwood 82.2 Island 92.1 Swan River 101.0 Philbin 108.4 Gunn to Casco Subdivision 112.1 Grand Rapids 118.5 Cohasset 125.7 Deer River 132.8 Ball Club 152.9 Schley 164.9 Cass Lake, Minnesota west to Grand Forks Subdivision

BNSF's Casco Subdivision to Hibbing connects to the Lakes Sub on both ends, at Gunn near Grand Rapids and at Brookston. The Lakes Sub also has a junction with the Brainerd Subdivision at Carlton and the Hinckley Subdivision at Boylston in Wisconsin.[1][2]

As of 2009, the line carried about seven trains per day which primarily had loads of coal and taconite.[2]