An Illinois Central SD40-3 in death star paint leads loaded taconite ore train as it passes through a s-curve just south of Culver, Minnesota on its way to Duluth.

A trio of SD40 variants (leader being ex IC) bring ore loads south through Culver.

Gliding through the S curve at Culver, MN as the snow falls.

BLE 909 adds to the spectacular fall colors as this empty taconite train makes its way north for another load of pellets at United Taconite.

A southbound ore train from United Taconite's Fairlane mine rolls down the Missabe Subdivision through an S curve on a beautiful September morning.

And on a snowy afternoon, a trio of Dash 8's hustle an empty limestone train through the same curves.

The Missabe heritage lives on. DM&IR 403 leads taconite loads southbound through Culver toward Proctor Yard. They will eventually make the run down to Dock 6 in Duluth to dump their load of pe... (more)

Empty ore cars follow a trio of C40-8s south through Culver on their return trip to Proctor Yard after a limestone delivery at Minntac.

IC SD40-3s 6254, 6264 and DMIR SD40T-3 402 are working at full tilt lifting a heavy, loaded U711 ore train through the small town of Culver on CN's Missabe Sub.

Missabe 403 leads a train of steaming Minntac pellets south towards Proctor. The warm weather combined with high moisture in the air formed nice hoarfrost.

Thankfully Culver's light held out at this U-Tac train thunders home to Proctor. Oddly enough, this was the second consist I saw today in this exact configuration. The light really shows how the r... (more)

Empty ore hoppers follow in tow behind a trio of SD40s northbound on the Missabe bound for the iron range to load up with Taconite pellets.

A loaded ore train from U.S. Steel's Minntac plant in Minnesota to CN's dock at Escanaba, Michigan rolls south through a nice S curve after a fresh snow.

A full house in the theater car Sandford Fleming as a CN inspection train rolls south on the former DM&IR. The train operated from Winnipeg to Superior.

Under sunny skies and a decently warm temperature, CN 8960 leads 13,457 tons and 195 cars of taconite pellets down the CN Missabe Sub. from U.S. Steel's Minntac plant on Minnesota's Iron Range as ... (more)