The last two units still wearing DM&IR paint (403 & 215) lead an empty ore train into Proctor from the docks at Duluth.

Patience is a virtue. After all the other rail fans had left, deterred by the thunderhead in the background, the sun finally popped out and illuminated what I consider an easy Catch of the Year wi... (more)

The 1st chore today for the 07:45 yard job at Proctor is to grab 2 scale test cars and a couple cars of rock to work on the scale. This crew will run this equipment over the scale for the most of ... (more)

"ANY SMELT IN THERE?" the engineer yelled as they went by. He was referring to the stream that moves under the reeds and such to the left, and oddly enough, a Budweiser guy had just left after che... (more)

Can't believe only two Maroon and Gold units remain...

A hopper train is seen in the distance rolling north on the former Missabe as the DMIR 403 leads raw taconite to the processing plant.

Raw taconite shuttles meet at Largo. The DMIR 403 will take the loads south while a pair of repainted tunnel motor body SD40's lead empties into the plant for loading.

One of two remaining Maroon and Gold DMIR locomotives leads a raw taconite train enroute to Unitac where it will be processed into taconite pellets. For some reason the train went into emergency ... (more)

One of two remaining DMIR units in maroon paint leads a train through Iron, MN and is about to pass under the HWY 37 overpass.

Waiting for the signal at Largo before heading south. Sadly there are only two DMIR maroon units remaining.

Last maroon '40 tugs a T-Bird towards Fairlane.

The last maroon 400-series tunnel motor leads a raw ore train towards the Fairlane processing plant of United Taconite.

Steaming into port. Loaded ore train from Minntac eases down the 2.9% grade into Two Harbors, Minnesota. Temp was a mild +18F.

Loaded ore train from Minntac eases down the 2.9% grade into Two Harbors, Minnesota.

Loaded ore train from Minntac eases down the scale track at Highland, located north of Two Harbors.