An IC deathstar takes a Minorca empty through the the brown death of northern Minnesota.

Empty ore train rolls towards Minntac.

The winter that just won't end. Heavy, wet snow continues to fall as DM&IR 406 leads the 145 empties northbound towards U.S. Steel Minntac for loading.

It's almost midnight and a light fog/rain/drizzle mix is in the air as a pair of signals protect the CN Iron Range Sub. at M.P. 66.3. In all types of weather, night or day they do their job.

On a bitterly cold and windy day the last maroon tunnel motors whips up the snow as it charges northward towards Minntac.

Loads from Minntac pass the Keenan switch and get a good roll-by from the crew at Gilbert as they continue to head south back to Two Harbors.

Empties from Two Harbors at Jones on the CN Iron Range Sub. heading for U.S. Steel Minntac to load pellets.

On a -25 degree morning DM&IR 407, 402 and 409 cut thru the fog and frost as they head for Two Harbors with loads of steaming taconite pellets from U.S. Steel Minntac.

A typically colorful lashup common to the former Missabe leads an empty pellet loader north for loading at Minnorca .

Despite the weather, a CN rail gang works on replacing rail on the CN Iron Range Sub between Sparta and Jones. The new rail is in place here and these machines are working on welding, tie plate a... (more)

Color provided by CN on this dark, rainy, foggy afternoon on Minnesota's Iron Range as the pellet trains roll on.

It might not seem like it because of its CN dress, but the DMIR #406 has been on Missabe property for 16 years already.

The crew on board B&LE is spending their Easter Sunday delivering taconite pellets from Minntac and rolling southbound down the Iron Range Subdivision for Two Harbors, MN.

Three Illinois Central units now serving time on the former Missabe pass through Sparta with 135 loads of steaming taconite pellets on a frost covered morning along the CN Iron Range Subdivision.

After meeting a southbound, this northbound continues it's journey with a final destination at the Minorca mine to load these trailing 135 empty ore cars with taconite pellets.