High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway (reporting mark MNS) was an 87 miles (140 km) long American short line railroad connecting Minneapolis and Northfield, Minnesota. It was incorporated in 1918 to take over the trackage of the former Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company, also known as the Dan Patch Lines. On 2 June 1982 it was acquired by the Soo Line Railroad, who kept it as a separate railroad until it was officially merged on January 1, 1986.