This is the last switch stand mainline crews would see from the cab before departing (or the first switch returning) and running the 72.2 mile mainline through the forests of northern Minnesota to Taconite Harbor and back with the Erie Mining and later LTV Steel and even later Cliffs Erie railroad. This switch was where Knox depot was located and where road train crews would get their train ready for departure after fueling, sanding and greasing took place by the shop people. Once ready, clearance cards were secured and then they headed off to Taconite Harbor. The last revenue ore train to be operated by LTV Steel consisted of taconite pellet chips and fines reclaimed from the stockpile area and left here on July 19th 2001. Some trains ran during the early Cliffs Erie years in the summer of 2008 when the dock and grounds around it were cleaned up but that's been about it for rail activity through here. The mine has officially been closed since 2001 with very little mainline activity since and none planned for the foreseeable future.