DMIR 403 leads loads of fresh made taconite pellets through the switches at Iron Jct. and will soon take a left turn onto the CN Iron Range Sub for the trip to Two Harbors.

DMIR 403 leads loads of fresh made taconite pellets down the CN Minntac Sub on the way back to Two Harbors, MN. A part of the massive taconite plant (The Minntac plant is the world's largest tac... (more)

DM&IR 407 S is in charge of a U-789 from North America's Largest Taconite Operation (U.S. Steel, Minntac) on a cold early fall morning near Iron Jct.

A southbound CN Q-119 has to pause and wait on the busy CN Rainy Sub. for a CN/DM&IR empty ore train that's bound for the U.S. Steel Minntac taconite plant to clear off the CN Iron Range Sub. whic... (more)

DM&IR 403 has already gone by heading towards Two Harbors with steaming taconite pellets and the F.R.E.D. is following along in it's tracks.

These signals came online in 1976 with the expansion of mining at the Thunderbird South pit of what was then called Eveleth Mines (now United taconite). The signals went dark when the pit ceased ... (more)

Loads from Minntac pass the Keenan switch and get a good roll-by from the crew at Gilbert as they continue to head south back to Two Harbors.

The sun has risen further into the sky warming the air to only -20 degrees now. Much better than the -30 degrees at daybreak only a few hours ago. The DM&IR 400 leads loads of fresh baked (at ro... (more)

The new ore cars CN has been ordering to replace their aging fleet of former DM&IR ore cars sure do glow in the low winter sun on the shortest day of the year as the haul more steaming taconite pe... (more)

Loads from the west side Minntac mine loadout hold the main with a fresh crew as empties from Two Harbors pass by on the siding heading for the Minntac east side loadout.

With a new crew on board, the IC 6252 continues southward for Two Harbors under clear skies and cold temps.

A blustery cold winter afternoon on the first day of the new year and the Minntac taconite plant is churning out hot pellets for the steel mills. The IC 6252 is in charge of this string of 142 ca... (more)

A U-789 Minntac west side pellet loader with 140 loads of steaming taconite pellets rolls through Fayal on the shortest day of the year.

CN threw is a treat when they put a solid set of Bessember 900s together in the ore pool during late November. Unfortunately the set didn't last long.

A dark and gloomy afternoon with rain and fog seems fitting as a IC death star leads 140 empty cars bound for U.S. Steel Minntac to load taconite pellets.