Hot pellets from the Cleveland-Cliffs United Taconite plant roll across the big steel bridge over Cloquet river passing below a giant white pine as they keep moving on towards the yard at Proctor,... (more)

As the clouds begin to part ways, CNs U717 rounds the iconic curve under the Rainy sub with a matched trio of Illinois Central paint SD40s.

With the winter season in full swing, train frequency took a strong hit entering November. But, Fairlane loads still had some work to do, as todays U717 is seen here gliding down Proctor Hill with... (more)

A few miles into the trip and the steam is rolling off the hot taconite pellets as they travel through the minus 15-degree air on the way back to Proctor, MN.

Catching just a few muted rays from the sun triple IC SD40-3's roll along with their train of ore cars hauling taconite pellets in tow and the yard at Proctor, MN as the destination.

Hauling taconite pellets down from United Taconite on Minnesota's Iron Range to Proctor yard with three IC's.

About a half hour after the sun set for the day, DMIR 400 is pulling up and out from the plant with its train of steaming marbles in tow while CN 2107 rounds the bend after dumping its train of ta... (more)

Loaded taconite train bound for Proctor behind three death stars hits the wide open stretch through the bog.

Zipping through the S curve at Culver with taconite pellets following along.

A rolling steam bank down the Missabe sub behind BLE 900, CN 5338 and IC 6253 and pulling DMIR/Missabe ore cars loaded up at the United Taconite facility. The exhaust plume is from said facility ... (more)

Three IC's lead taconite loads about to pass under the Highway 33 bridge at Saginaw as they head to Proctor.

IC 6252 leads taconite loads under the former DW&P main at Munger as they head to Proctor yard.

After the triple set of BLE orange units came the triple set of DMIR 40's and now here's the latest installment of cool things on the former Missabe, the IC 40's in triplicate. IC 6252 leads pell... (more)

After a M.O.W. work window recently expired, three classic EMD SD40-3s with DMIR 408 leading now sits and waits for their turn to enter the CN Missabe Sub to head south while a T-Bird shuttle wi... (more)

Sitting. Waiting. Patience. A work block in between them and their destination is providing a time to sit and relax until things clear up and traffic moves allowing them to move. Eventually.