The wildfire smoke that plagued NE Minnesota during most of summer months has really tapered off and mostly cleared out now that fall has arrived with it's cool, clean air , blue skies and low lig... (more)
A trio of dash 8's and 145 ore cars of taconite pellets begin the trip down the CN Iron Range sub for Two Harbors, MN. coming off the CN Missabe sub at Iron Jct. west wye.
CN 2028 rounds the curve at Biwabik on the way north. Using your best horse racing call/voice makes it more interesting.
Running up the CN Rainy sub through the yard a Virginia, MN a trio of dash 8's and 145 ore cars glide along and in a few miles will reach the Minorca mine loadout chute.
After passing through Allen Jct. CN 2025 rounds the bend and crosses the control point Nugget along the CN Iron Range sub. as they continue north. The rail on the left is/was used as the former D... (more)
Over the river and through the wood to the Minorca mine they go; the big Dash 8's know the way pulling the ore cars through the white and falling snow.
CN 2025 leads 145 DMIR ore jennies up main two heading for the Minorca mine to load while BNSF 4002 leads 130 BNSF ore cars up main one for the Minntac mine to load. The BNSF train will hold at th... (more)
After meeting a southbound pellet load, CN 2027 catches the last light of the day traveling north along the running track on the CN Iron Range Sub at Sparta, MN.
The snow has started to fall as CN 2025 continues it's march north to load pellets at the Minorca mine. A wave from the conductor is always nice to see.
The U792 for Minorca comes through DWP Jct. and will make the left turn at Shelton Jct. for the short trip up the Rainy sub (somewhat visible below the train) to Minorca Jct. and then the mine pro... (more)
