There were no brass bands or speeches given by local officials, no pomp or circumstance to mark the passing of the Minnesota Northstar line on Sunday, January 4, 2026.  Instead, only devotees and rail enthusiasts were on-hand to document the final stop at the Big Lake Station of the Northstar train. 

Rail Enthusiasts

They came from Mahtomedi, Cambridge, East Bethel, Eagan, Crystal, Brooklyn Park, and Elk River to photograph the train as it pulled into the station.  All of them were both excited and sad, but fully aware that something was coming to an end. 

Big Lake Resident Jordan Domka remembered his first train ride on the Northstar in 2012.  He was four years old at the time and recalls how much fun it was.  That was the beginning of his love of trains.  He has ridden on the Northstar many times since then.

“It’s going to be so weird to not be able to ride on it.  The crew are such great people.  It’s going to be sad to see it go,” said Domka. 

A Time to Remember

First came the lights that could be seen from the train as it began to approach the station, then the whistle.  The rail enthusiasts lined up behind their cameras and got ready.  Then the bell rang over the intercom system, and at 4:37pm, the Northstar stopped to let out its final passengers.     

Many were dressed in Vikings and Packers gear after attending the game, which ended at 2:45 p.m. with a Vikings victory.   Passengers then loaded the train at Target Field at 3:45 pm and arrived at Big Lake, on time.  They stopped to take selfies and bid farewell to the men and women who had worked on the Northstar. It was clear that passengers had become familiar with the crew over the 16 years that the Northstar rail had been in operation.  At 4:45pm, you could hear the announcement, “Last call for Big Lake,” echo throughout the station. 

What’s Next?

BNSF Railway Passenger Operations Manager Darren Olson explained that most of the crew will return to BNSF Freight operations. BNSF was responsible for the operation of the Northstar train. Engineer Todd Lippman and Conductor Don Slaughter ran the train on its final run and for Lippman himself, it was his final run. After 51 years, he has decided to retire. 

Noting that he was not speaking on behalf of BNSF, Olson shared his thoughts on the day, starting with the goal he set for his crew at the beginning of the day, to keep passengers safe to perform their duties professionally, as they had done for the past 15 years.    

Olson believes they accomplished that. He thanked the 80 people who had worked on the Northstar over the years and reminisced about the countless impacts they had had on passengers. 

“We’re very proud of that and very disappointed to see this come to a close. It holds a special place in our hearts.  We’re out here because we want to be.  Every one of my employees has seniority to go someplace else on the railroad, and they all chose to be here because they like being here.” 

Olson says the mojority of workers have made friends with passengers.  

“We know about each other’s lives…Internally, you work with a workgroup like we do, in and out, day after day, rain, sun, sleet, or snow, you get to know people, and they get to be a part of your life, and you become a part of theirs.”  

On Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, everyone seemed to take a moment to say goodbye and reflect on the end of the Northstar rail line.