Railroads employed "date nails" to mark the last time ties were replaced. I have only come across these relics on what is now the CN Iron Range Sub and in Two Harbors outside the museum. The most... (more)

Nice trio of tunnel motors ties down their train as the sun gets ready to set on a nice spring day.

Coming back from Two Harbors, the DM&IR 408 takes the siding at Biwabik as they continue northward for Minntac and a reload of these cars.

Rolling east at a steady 30mph near Hannahville the DMIR 315,170,209,312 and 90 loads of Minorca ore are fighting through a fairly heavy Upper Michigan snow squall. Most years these winter only Mi... (more)

DM&IR 408 and crew get a good roll-by from the CN track inspector as they sail though Biwabik at track speed heading for Two Harbors.

A loaded ore train with steaming taconite pellets heads south towards Two Harbors.

Ore empties throttle up out of Brimson siding after a meet in moderate snow.

When I think DM&IR this is what normally comes to mind, clean units, non turbo EMD's, and good rail. The Steelton job has just begin the assault on Steelton Hill with 208,175,313,189 and 193.

Ore loads head for Two Harbors in a light snow.

Wishing all RP.net viewers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Fitting for the season, a pair of former DM&IR units work during a heavy lake effect snow storm to position coal cars for storage a... (more)

While Northern Minnesota has had a tame winter so far in 2012, this shot from 2001 shows what winter could look like. Five light units head towards Duluth to clear Proctor Hill as snow continues t... (more)

Empty side dump cars from a CN (DMIR) limestone train sit just a few yards from the road I'm standing on, having derailed off the bridge (left) the night before. The falling snow just adds to the ... (more)

Old and cold. These three 1907-built ore cars lasted as long as they did on the DM&IR because of their manual door opening wheels located on either end. They made great cars in ballast service. Lo... (more)

Impressive DM&IR Yellowstone 229 underwent a major cosmetic restoration in late 2011 and is shown here on New Year's Eve. The 229 is one of three Missabe 2-8-8-4s that are preserved (227 in Dulut... (more)

A section crew struggles to clear a switch during a blizzard with near white-out conditions.