A peaceful morning listening to birds and other wildlife around the pond is momentarily broken by the rumble of these EMD's and their train for about 20 minutes as they work in unison on the two h... (more)

Shortly after the loads ran by, this empty tailings train with NSM 650 pulling and NSM 651 pushing came rolling along heading back to the plant to reload. With no schedule at all and running only... (more)

With only about 5 miles to go until the yard at Silver Bay, MN, it's all down hill from here for the crew as they descend into the Lake Superior basin to the plant.

Ore loads behind an all EMD power trio glide down the Northshore Mining mainline between the mine at Babbitt and the plant at Silver Bay.

The morning train of taconite bearing rock from the mine at Babbitt, MN makes it's way past the large pond near Toimi, MN at the half way point on the trip to the plant at Silver Bay, MN.

A North Shore Mining SD40-3 leads a work train through the dense fog in Toimi, MN.

Running up the hill out of the Lake Superior basin, NSM 661 chases the setting sun with a train of empties on a cold and clear New Year's Day.

Loads of taconite bearing rock from Babbitt make their way to Silver Bay passing the signals for the tailings basin near MP 7 on the NSM mainline.

As the winter sun dips fast towards the horizon and a few hours after coming by with loads and trailing, NSM 661 now finds itself as the leader heading inland from Lake Superior and the plant back... (more)

The tailings trains drifts back around the S curve at M.P. 6 as they head back to the plant to reload then make the trip back up the grade once again.

The morning loads of taconite rock continue towards the plant while the tailings train waits for them to clear and will wye the train before returning to the plant at Silver Bay.

Day one of the new year and the leader of the morning loads train from the mine down to the plant matches the sky. A good day in the land of sky blue waters.

The push/pull SD40s on the NSM tailings train grind their way up the grade and through the curves out of Silver Bay as they head for the tailings pond among the brilliant fall colors.

Climbing out the Lake Superior basin and away from Silver Bay heading into the sun running through the Superior National forest to Babbitt and the mine to drop off these empties then tying onto a ... (more)

After running light up to Norshor Jct. to pick up bentonite hoppers interchanged by CN, a trio of SD40-3's head back to the plant at Silver Bay while a track worker runs up the east main.