After meeting a northbound intermodal core train, CN loaded iron ore train U717 pulls out of the siding at the south end of Coons in Saginaw, Minnesota. Steam wafts off the cars as the freshly bak... (more)

Train U717 heads south from UTAC with loads for Proctor. CN 2029 leads the steaming ore train through Kelsey, MN.

Train U717 from Fairlane with loads for Duluth, approaching Norway Ridge Road in Forbes, MN.

Fresh pellet steam wisps off of the loaded taconite cars as Canadian National's U717 snakes its way out of the departure tracks at the Fairlane Taconite Plant in Forbes, Minnesota. A trio of class... (more)

With a train of steaming pellets from the Fairlane Taconite Plant in tow, DMIR 406 leads CN U71781-04 as it slowly makes its way into the yard at Proctor, Minnesota and rolls past a trio of IC SD4... (more)

With some incredible timing, a CN manifest freight M356 cruises south on the Rainy Sub as loaded ore train U717 rolls east towards Proctor on the Missabe Sub, creating a perfect over-under on the ... (more)

A pair of DMIR Tunnel Motors and an IC SD40 slowly ease forward as they pull ore cars through the loader at the Fairlane taconite plant in Fairlane, Minnesota for loading with pellets.

Pellet steam billows off the train of taconite pellets as two DMIR SD40T-3's and an IC SD40-3 cruise south through Zim, Minnesota as they lead U717 towards Proctor.

Two DMIR SD40T-3's and an IC SD40-3 cruise along Highway 7 in Zim, Minnesota as they lead U717 south towards Proctor. The loads of freshly baked taconite pellets steam in the cold air, while steam... (more)

CN 2006 taking ore loads south through Saginaw.

CN 2006 taking ore loads south.

A trio of EMD's lead loaded ore train U717 south, knocking down the intermediate signal at 483 in Sax, Minnesota. Former IC SD40-3 6256 is in the lead, wearing some pretty warn CN paint.

With an MOW crew working one of the switches at the west end of Proctor Yard, loaded ore train U717 slows to a crawl behind lead unit IC 6252. The train eases past the work zone and proceeds towar... (more)

The sun is shining on a March morning as former Illinois Central SD40-3 6252, still wearing the "death star" paint scheme, leads loaded ore train U717 through the s-curve just south of C... (more)

A trio of CN SD40's are hard at work pulling a loaded train of iron ore taconite pellets alongside Center Line Road in Burnett, Minnesota. Steaming in the cold weather, these pellets are bound for... (more)