The Hastings and Dakota Railroad was chartered in 1867 (originally chartered as the Hastings, Minnesota River and Red River of the North Railroad in 1857) to build a line from Hastings, MN, across the Rocky Mountains and eventually reach the Pacific Ocean. This first stretch of line was built in 1868. Construction of the entire line continued westward under the control of the Chicago, Milwaukee, Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad (the Milwaukee Road) and indeed ultimately reached the Pacific Ocean.
This segment of the line, between Hastings and Shakopee (via Farmington and Lakeville), was abandoned in 1979.