The world of modernization is closing in on the Ex Duluth Missabe and Iron Range main lines of Northern Minnesota. The DMIR's maroon locomotives that once ruled these rails have transitioned to Canadian National's red and black, as well as a hint of Illinois Central black, and Bessemer and Lake Erie orange. The EMDs that once dominated this piece of railroad have begun to give way to GEs. If all that change wasn't enough the classy searchlight signals have been giving way to modern signal technology.
While the future of the old school feel of this piece of railroad is in the air, one constant remains. The railroad will continue to move iron ore from the mines to the waiting ships at Two Harbors or Duluth.
CN train U79082 heads back from Two Harbors for another load of iron ore behind a trio of C40-8s, passing a set of searchlight signals on borrowed time at Biwabik Minnesota.
You can feel the change of this area everywhere you go in the Iron Range now. But I guess change is inevitable. One thing is for certain, ore trains will keep running in this stunning region of the United States. A region where heavy industry meets nature's nearly untouched perfection.
