Cold, but clear!
With an air temp of -10F this loaded taconite train rolls south at 30 mph towards Proctor as steam from the freshly baked pellets cascades off the ore cars and creates a moving cloud.
An old DM&IR ore car build date 1952 vs. a new DM&IR ore car build date 07/ 2009.
After leaving United Taconite's Fairlane plant the chase was on for the dozen or so railfans that took a break from the NRHS convention in Duluth and came up to the Iron Range to see the DM&IR 403... (more)
DM&IR 408 pulls 136 loads of taconite pellets out of Fairlane as an empty T-Bird and the Keenan Switch jockey for space in the backround.
With temps near 90 ABOVE zero in northern Minnesota, the crew of DM&IR 403 has no A/C so they leave the door open for ventilation on the southbound trip to Proctor with pellet loads for the docks ... (more)
A southbound loaded pellet train out of United Taconite's Fairlane plant led by the last maroon Missabe tunnel motor on the CN roster puts on quite a show for the dozen plus railfans that made the... (more)
The only iron ore pellet train leaving the Iron Range today waits for the crude ore train to leave so they can head to Proctor.
The only iron ore pellet train leaving the Iron Range today eases up to speed behind the last maroon tunnel motor of the former Missabe fleet.
The only iron ore pellet train leaving the Iron Range today crosses over the Whiteface River at Kelsey, MN with 140 loads bound for Proctor, MN.
The only iron ore train leaving the Iron Range today from the only one of the six taconite plants producing pellets today a pair of repainted former Missabe tunnel motors pull the 140 cars of stil... (more)
Illinios Central 6260 and DM&IR 215 lead a train of iron ore pellets south towards Proctor.
DMIR 402 leads a full load of steaming taconite pellets from United Taconite enroute to Proctor. Temp is 25 below zero.
DM&IR 402 and Illinios Central 6252 ramp up their combined 6000 horsepower to track speed with steaming loads of iron ore pellets in tow.