Dynamic brakes growl as CN 5726 north eases downgrade into Empire Jct. The front half of the train is loaded with limestone to be used in the making of iron ore pellets.

The LS&I 7-Tilden job has returned to Eagle Mills from the Tilden Mine with a loaded train of iron ore pellets. Later, the loaded cars will be brought down the hill for loading onto ore boats serv... (more)

For a brief few years ore trains to Escanaba were handsomely matched sets of maroon SD45s and maroon ore cars. But in a couple days the whole WC would become a CN property, in a few years the SD45... (more)

A look back at what may be in the future for lines along the Mississippi River this year, a conductor eyes the high water as his train emerges from a submerged section of track. This westbound V t... (more)

WC 7551 bore special lettering on its flank reading "Customer Minded Employees" as it pulled a cut of iron ore pellets out of the Empire Mine in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. WC took over the old C&... (more)

From back when BN SD40-2s with GE boosters ruled the rails, another eastbound stack train traces the shore of the Mississippi River on the way to Chicago. Meanwhile, a downbound tug and barges loc... (more)

SORE2 brings a trainload of limestone across Goose Lake on the way to the Empire Mine. A beautiful September day is in evidence as the broom is used to prop open the cab door and let the air in. T... (more)

Train 517 for the twin cities rolls west kicking up the fresh snow as it leaves New Richmond behind.

While there have been rough trips for the Empire Builder this winter including annulled trains, the cold isn't bothering #8 this morning. 201 east glides through River Jct. meeting a westbound IC&... (more)

It's been crisp morning in the upper Mississippi River valley having started well below zero. The reward is a crystal clear winter day with bright snow cover. Train 280 rolls past the Milwaukee Ro... (more)

It's been crisp morning along the upper Mississippi River having started well below zero. Train 396 curves along the west bank through Dakota, MN. In a few miles the line will cross the river into... (more)

A late-running 517 train for the twin cities slices through the fresh snow in western Wisconsin. 20 inches of fresh snow has slowed down operations on the CN Minneapolis Sub. Normally a nocturnal ... (more)

Whoosh! A pair of SD75Is crash through the fresh snow at a rural crossing in western Wisconsin. 20 inches of fresh snow has slowed down operations on the CN Minneapolis Sub. Normally a nocturnal r... (more)

20 inches of fresh snow has slowed down operations on the CN Minneapolis Sub. Normally a nocturnal run, the weather has bumped the 517 back to a rare afternoon trip. A pair of icy SD75Is slow appr... (more)

Winter has settled in over the upper Mississippi River valley with cold and light snow that whips up around a westbound BNSF manifest.