A loaded T-Bird passes by an empty taconite train on a sub-zero January morning.

A short 82-car train of ore from Minntac eases down the 2.9% grade into Two Harbors on a snowy Saturday.

As light snow falls Missabe 404 and an IC SD40-3 ease downgrade into Two Harbors with a short 82-car train of ore.

Taken from a crossing, one of only 2 Missabe tunnel motors to receive a plow slowly pulls out its T-Bird train from the loadout. Looks like those ore cars have been there for awhile.

The final shot of the last train we would see on the Iron Range on our spectacular railfan adventure. The day was shared with fellow friend and railfan Christopher Muller.

Limestone empties begin to overtake a raw taconite train as both head south.

While it is nice to shoot clean locomotives in the sun, it pains me to be shooting noodles instead of Maroon and Gold.

T-Bird train heads for United Taconite on an unusually warm January day.

Loaded ore train from United Taconite rolls south towards Proctor.

Cold, but clear!

With an air temp of -10F this loaded taconite train rolls south at 30 mph towards Proctor as steam from the freshly baked pellets cascades off the ore cars and creates a moving cloud.

With an air temp of -10F this loaded taconite train rolls south at 30 mph towards Proctor as steam from the freshly baked pellets cascades off the ore cars and creates a moving cloud.

CN (DMIR) 404 leads IC 6252 with empty mini-quads to be loaded with limestone. Lake Superior and Duluth's famous Aerial Lift Bridge can be seen in the background.