Deer looking for spilled grain don't seem too nervous as snow dozer 940022 approaches. Heavy snow this year has been hard on both deer and railroads.

Cenex Harvest States leased ILSX SW9 2117 rolls past the laid-up ore boat Edward L. Ryerson.

A thunderstorm has just cleared and early evening light bathes Proctor yard as a loaded limestone train for Minntac departs north. There are still plenty of older EMD units assigned to Proctor.

The end iron ore pellet production at the Empire mine occurred today (August 3, 2016). Once the cornerstone of C&NW's Marquette Range iron ore franchise, Empire has reached the end of its economic... (more)

A lonely SD40-2 rests in a wet surrounding as snow continues to melt. The 1850 was being used for RCO training at this former NP yard.

A winter of heavy snow followed by some warm days has caused localized flooding in the Twin Ports, including CP's yard in Duluth. I wouldn't want to hang the air on those cars - that water is cold... (more)

For a brief period in 2002 North Shore Scenic Railroad borrowed DM&IR (ex-B&LE) SD38 869 for use on its tourist line between Duluth and Two Harbors. I imagine this was the most unusual assignment ... (more)

Soo 4102 was destroyed in February 1996 when a runaway BNSF freight slammed into St. Paul Yard. Here its hulk sits at Shoreham later that year awaiting disposition.

Wisconsin Great Northern's pair of former GN F7As, recently acquired from the defunct Columbia Star dinner train operation and painted in Wabash colors, pulls stored empty tank cars for photograph... (more)

As the 1,000-foot M/V Indiana Harbor prepares to dock at its namesake port a SW1200 handles a short cut of hoppers loaded with coke coal. The Indiana Harbor will unload 70,000 tons of Minnesota ir... (more)

A pair of former DM&IR SD38-2s switch Proctor yard on a crisp -5F morning. The calm conditions have allowed a temperature inversion to trap steam from freshly baked taconite pellets close to the g... (more)

Lots of snow in the Montana Rockies this year, so much so that an avalanche closed this route near Java yesterday. Earlier in February the Empire Builder made for a fine, albeit late, sight curvin... (more)

When United States Steel ceased movement of crude ore by rail at their Minntac iron ore mine in northeastern Minnesota they sold off their large fleet of locomotives. This DM&IR train was the larg... (more)

Shortly after LTV announced it was closing its mine and pellet plant in northern Minnesota an employee spray painted "For Sale" on one of the ore cars. Unfortunately a sale would never come and 14... (more)

A recently washed 2104 looks sharp in front of the laker Hon. James L Oberstar of the Interlake Steamship fleet. The Oberstar was repainted over the winter and looks equally nice. The vessel was l... (more)