Meet between the Keenan Switch and a Minorca ore empty.

Highest numbered remaining Missabe rebuild in service.

Southbound Minntac ore load heading south back to Proctor MN

Lead by two of the three remaining rebuilt SD18s a crude ore train heads to the U-Tac mine for unloading.

The clouds parted as veteran rebuilt SD18 303 (192) and sister 308 lead a pair of SD38-2s and an IC SD40-2R northbound with 33 loads and 22 empties. Not impossible, but darn hard to get four maro... (more)

A stunning catch (for 2008) as the twice-weekly MRF departs Proctor with four (!) Missabe maroon and gold units on the point (303, 308, 215, 212) and IC 6006 trailing.

Ah, well worth the wait on a cold wind-swept bridge as this solid set of Missabe maroon units (412, 212, 403) arrived at Proctor with Minntac limestone empties. It is very hard in 2008 to get th... (more)

CN plans to replace steam-era DM&IR ore cars with 850 new cars over the next five years starting in June. Of the seven engines in this shot, five will probably be retired by summer.

DM&IR 400 and sister B&LE 903 lead a Minntac empty north for loading. That's the former DW&P spanning the Missabe in the distance.

Steam from freshly baked taconite pellets has coated the frames on these ore cars as this Minntac train heads towards Proctor in -21F weather.

Just after the train passed me the engineer called Proctor to tell them that the 405 had just ran out of fuel and that B&LE 903 was doing all the work. They had a fuel truck waiting at the yard. ... (more)

DMIR 211 south (T-Bird) heads for Fairlane under crisp blue skies on a cold and bitter Monday afternoon. While temperatures stayed steady at -18, the windchills were near -45.

DMIR 211 south departs the Thunderbird mine destined for Fairlane.

Southbound taconite loads accelerate after meeting a northbound empty ore train at Brimson, MN. The train is destined for Two Harbors, MN. The temps this morning were so cold (-18) that the steam... (more)

DMIR 409 south accelerates after meeting a northbound empty ore train at Brimson, MN. The train is destined for Two Harbors, MN. The temps this morning were so cold (-18) that the steam coming of... (more)