BNSF's newest paint scheme? Maybe we should dub this the Michelin Man scheme. There obviously is a special purpose to this well disguished 70 MAC. Any one know why is it shrink wrapped?

The blue bonnets are gathering at Dilworth. Included in this view are a GP40X and a GP50.

Running on another coal load's block, the 9171 and the 9827 grind uphill through the quiet countryside west of Hawley. The train is running on the wrong main due to a CWR train that was working we... (more)

In 2010 it would hard to find a better Soo Line scene as a short weighfreight departs Thief River Falls, passing the beautifully preserved Soo depot, with a pair of F-unit killers. Even the middle... (more)

Two GE's and a 70MAC lead an empty Granite City all-rail north for another load. On this evening 3 BNSF all-rail trains were plying the rails - a sure sign of an upswing in the taconite industry.

A nice matching pair of H1 GPs are still working hard with 60 hoppers of limestone from Duluth. These cars will be on tomorrows SUPGFD.

The second of many coal empties makes its way off the North Shore Scenic Railroad's line along the north shore of Lake Superior (visible in the background). The coal cars are reentering service af... (more)

A new clean GE lead a nice matched consist pulling 108 cars loaded with pellets from Minntac. The train is pulling past the wye that serves Unitied Taconite.

The last light of the day highlights the weather-worn nature of this code line pole that still carries phone and signal cables along the former DM&IR. Judging by the look of the wood it has been t... (more)

The DMIR 408 and IC 6259 make their way south towards Fairlane with a loaded crude ore train in the waning light of the first day of January.

The cold air (-7 C) combined with the freshly loaded pellets combine to create a rolling fog bank that obscures everything behind the fifth car.

My first shot of 2010 has NSM 650, the first of the rebuilt SD40-2's purchased by NSM, leading a crude ore train through the winter wonderland at Milepost 23. The temperature was a balmy -7 degree... (more)

A former IC and two former Missabe motors team up to move 108 steaming loads of Minorca pellets to Two Harbors on a cold first day of 2010. Unfortunately for the crew, delays will mean that they w... (more)

An EMD leaser and a Santa GP tug 63 cars from Duluth's Rice's Point and Mike's Yard across the now frozen St. Louis River in a fairly intense snow squall.

A long TC&W transfer nears it destination at CP's Pig's Eye Yard. Along the way, the head end passes St. Paul's most famous landmark, the First Bank building. In the foreground is UP's Robert Stre... (more)