Canadian National: Duluth, Missabe, & Iron Range trilogy

Description

After Canadian National’s aquisition of the DMIR, changes came to the taconite-hauling lines. A new paint scheme and power from other CN lines started showing up, general merchandise train counts rose, and EMD power was slowly replaced with GE power.

In part 1 of our 3-part series, we explore CN’s operations from the Duluth ore docks up the famous Proctor Hill to Proctor yard. We see switching on CN Dock 6, at Hallet Dock 5, and up in the yard. While switching is taking place, we see movements along the shore from BNSF and Canadian Pacific.

The variety of power and seasons you see in this area tops them all, as we see locomotives from Canadian National, Duluth Missabe & Iron Range, Bessemer & Lake Erie, SOO Line, Canadian Pacific, plus different models like SD38s, C40-8s, GP38-2s, and SD40-2 variants such as SD40-2W, SD40u, and SD40-3 tunnel motor rebuilds, plus more.

In part 2 of our 3-part series, we follow the Missabe Subdivision from Proctor yard north to Shelton Junction, where the Missabe joins the Rainy Subdivision, the line of the former Duluth, Winnipeg, & Pacific. We’ll see taconite and limestone operations, as well as the Canadian National “core” trains running on the mainline between Chicago, Pokegama, and Winnipeg.

We’ve made several trips to the area in all seasons, so you’ll see the brilliant sunshine of late summer/early fall, the rainy spring seasons, and snow. In addition to the taconite production, we’ll see the unique “T-bird” operations, raw ore being transferred from the mine to the production plant. We also caught ES44 gevos testing in taconite service.

In part 3 of our 3-part series, we follow the former Duluth & Iron Range line between Two Harbors and Iron Junction. We start at the mine at Minntac and work our way south as the line plows through the northwoods, creating an interesting up-and-down track profile. You’ll hear locomotives in heavy dynamic braking and in full throttle as they move 145 cars worth of taconite towards Lake Superior.

During our multiple visits to the area, the beloved SD40 series locomotives were slowly replaced with former Chicago Northwestern C40-8s in what has been the biggest change the area has seen. We also follow the miscellaneous road freight, the daily local, as it makes its trips between Two Harbors and the Missabe, plus see rare footage of the train as it interchanges with the Northshore Mining on the Wales Branch.

Join us for some of the most unique rail operations in the country!