, ▁animal ▁fe eds , ▁and ▁fert il izers . ▁ ▁The ▁Minnesota ▁Northern ▁Rail road ▁inter changes ▁with ▁the ▁B NS F ▁Railway , ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Pacific ▁Railway , ▁and ▁the ▁Northern ▁Pla ins ▁Rail road . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁Minnesota ▁Northern ▁Rail road ▁was ▁created ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁when ▁the ▁rail road ’ s ▁former ▁owner , ▁Rail America , ▁purchased ▁ ▁of ▁track ▁from ▁the ▁newly ▁created ▁Bur ling ton ▁Northern ▁& ▁Santa ▁Fe ▁Railway . ▁Also ▁included ▁in ▁the ▁sale ▁were ▁ ▁of ▁track age ▁rights ▁on ▁the ▁B NS F ' s ▁Grand ▁F ork s ▁Sub div ision ▁from ▁Cro ok ston , ▁Minnesota ▁to ▁Er sk ine , ▁Minnesota ▁and ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Pacific ' s ▁Detroit ▁L akes ▁Sub div ision ▁from ▁Er sk ine , ▁Minnesota ▁to ▁Th ief ▁River ▁F alls , ▁Minnesota . ▁ ▁The ▁ ▁of ▁track ▁initially ▁sold ▁to ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Northern ▁Rail road ▁consisted ▁of : ▁ ▁A ▁ ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁P ▁Line ▁Sub div ision ▁from ▁Per ley , ▁Minnesota ▁to ▁Cro ok ston , ▁Minnesota ▁ ▁The ▁ ▁F ert ile ▁Sub div ision ▁from ▁Cro ok ston , ▁Minnesota ▁to ▁F ert ile , ▁Minnesota ▁ ▁The ▁ ▁Ada ▁Sub div ision ▁from ▁Cro ok ston , ▁Minnesota ▁to ▁Ada , ▁Minnesota ▁ ▁The ▁ ▁War road ▁Sub div ision ▁from ▁St . ▁H ila ire , ▁Minnesota ▁to ▁War road , ▁Minnesota ▁ ▁A ▁ ▁sp ur ▁of ▁the ▁Grand