All loaded out and ready to depart Minntac for Two Harbors. A few minutes later Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range “heritage” SD40-3 No. 403 leads the train down the hill and into view and thus beg... (more)

BLE 906 heads to Two Harbors, MN with 142 cars of taconite pellets behind them as they cross the former Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad (DM&N) then the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railroad ... (more)

The hot taconite pellets mix with the cold Minnesota winter air obscuring the train except for the first few cars as the U-789 rolls through Gilbert on the CN Iron Range Sub.

The snow is tapering off as IC 6260 storms south through Biwabik, MN with taconite loads for Two Harbors, MN on a black and white type dreary afternoon.

DMIR 403 leads 144 loads of taconite pellets off the CN Missabe Sub taking the left turn at Iron Jct. and onto the CN Iron Range Sub. for the trip to Two Harbors.

After exchanging pleasantries, the northbound empties crew continue north while the southbound loads crew continue south. Mine to dock to mine to dock and around and around they go.

All loaded out and departing U.S. Steel Minntac property with 143 loads of taconite pellets, DMIR 403 cruises at track speed down the CN Minntac Sub, then the CN Missabe Sub and finally the CN Iro... (more)

While the heavy snow is falling southbound DMIR 407 is passing it's northbound empty counterpart near Gilbert, MN and is throttling back up to track speed continuing it's trek to Two Harbors after... (more)

DMIR 403 leading taconite loads from Minntac bound for Two Harbors in snow but more importantly in 2015.

CN 5338 (SD40-2), CN 5318 (SD40-2W), CN 5349 (SD40-2W) and CN 5244 (SD40-2W) lead 145 empty cars north from Two Harbors for loading at the U.S. Steel Minntac plant at Mountain Iron, MN and will th... (more)

In the last light of 2013, DMIR 405 rounds the bend and turns away from the sun heading to Two Harbors with loads of taconite pellets from U.S. Steel Minntac.

A U-789 loaded at the west load out pocket at U.S. Steel's Minntac taconite plant travels through Sparta on the CN Iron Range Sub. on the way to Two Harbors, MN.

With it feeling and looking more like January rather than the beginning of spring yet in northern Minnesota, BLE 904, 903 and 906 add color while bringing loads of taconite pellets down from the ... (more)

A CN wide cab veteran leads a train of steaming Minntac pellets south towards Two Harbors. The snow is finally starting to melt.

R.I.P. 403---DMIR 403 takes the switch at Iron Jct. off the CN Missabe Sub and onto the CN Iron Range Sub for the trip to Two Harbors with loads of taconite pellets from the U.S. Steel Minntac pla... (more)