Three rare ex-Reserve Mining SD28s (1234, 1236, 1235) and former NSM SD18 1228 (leased back from LRC) head out of Silver Bay with empties for Babbitt the day after Christmas 2000.

When railfans come from far away to shoot the NSM railroad this is the shot they all want to leave with. Taken from the appropriately named "Railfan Rock" high above the NSM mainline. Three SD40... (more)

After serving as the a dpu unit on the tailings train, the crew put NSM 653 on it's own little train with five cars from the plant being brought up to Norshore Jct. which is where the NSM RR and t... (more)

After delivering the loads of taconite to Silver Bay the crew grabs a cut of empties and turns and burns back to Babbitt to reload. The white plume of exhaust from the plant can be seen on the hor... (more)

With only the last few miles to go the crew aboard the noon loads eases their train past the jct. for the tailings basin and proceeds to Silver Bay with more taconite rock.

Spring in northern Minnesota with snow on one side and evidence of a grass fire on the other on the NSM mainline at M.P. 6. Two SD40-3's, one leading and one in DPU mode come down from the tailin... (more)

An empty ore train works hard as it heads upgrade out of Silver Bay.

A tailings train makes an appearance at MP 5.

11am loads wind their way to Silver Bay behind a nice looking #651.

Due to recent heavy snow NSM called out their unique looking former Reserve Mining spreader to plow the mainline. Here the plow extra nears Silver Bay.

With the fall colors nearly peak, three NSM units coast downhill into Silver Bay with the 11am loads.

Typical northern Minnesota. Long winding highway with few cars and long and loud ore trains. Cant beat it.

While all the fans were salivating over their MP 23 shot, I'll let RP be inundated with theirs. I was quite tickled with this shot around the curve to be quite honest!

An empty tailings train heads back down the hill to the Silver Bay yard.

Heading back to Silver Bay after dumping their train of coarse tailings at the massive basin at M.P. 7, NSM 650 leads the way to take on another load and do it all over again.