After bringing in a train of ore into Silver Bay, the 11am loads departs with a train of empties in tow for Babbit.

Having left the mine at Babbitt, MN a few hours ago, the loads of taconite rock are almost to Silver Bay, MN and the processing plant located there.

As fog rolls in off Lake Superior a sun break shines on empties ready to head back to the mine. This leased unit is scheduled to be returned this month.

654 leads a loaded tailings train through the S curve outside of Silver Bay as it heads to the dump from Silver Bay.

After dumping it's train of tailings, NSM 653 heads back to Silver Bay and crosses over highway 4.

Dumper job prepares to shove into the shed.

As fog rolls in off Lake Superior a dumper job pulls loaded cars towards the unloading shed.

Another train of waste course tailings heads up to the basin with a blue NSM logo pushing in DPU mode.

Splitting the signals for the tailings basin, the 1100 loads only have a few miles left before they are at the yard and plant at Silver Bay with their loads of rock to keep the plant running makin... (more)

Hauling 642 axels and close to 10,000 tons of rock down from the mine at Babbitt to the plant at Silver Bay, the NSM 657 navigates the S curve at M.P. 5 under fall colors as they continue to roll ... (more)

Splitting the signals on the final leg of the 47 mile trip from Babbit to Silver Bay.

After delivering the 1100 loads of taconite rock to Silver Bay from Babbitt, the trailing units on the way down get to lead on the way back up. Oh goodie! Instead of the nice blue/white paint sc... (more)

The crew rounds the bend in front of "Railfan Rock" along the NSM mainline and hurries back to the plant after dumping the waste tailings at the basin.

Pulling 149 loads of rock down from the mine in Babbitt to the processing plant at Silver Bay, NSM 652 leads three other EMD SD40's along the NSM mainline at M.P. 4.5