This is C. Vision's full video covering trains in Minnesota's iron ore country powered by classic EMD locomotives. Beginning with the Canadian National, we'll follow taconite and limestone trains, along with the Proctor and Two Harbors “MRF” local freights (L593 and L594), as they work their way across the former DM&IR system. The parade of trains to and from Minntac, Minorca, and Fairlane is nonstop, and this video shows just how busy it was, with these movements cycling between the mines and the ore docks as fast as the operation would allow. Some of the locomotive models seen in this segment include SD402 (SD403), SD45T2 (SD40T3), SD40 (SD40u), SD402W, SD38, SD382, SD60, and SD70. A few fallen flag road names appear, including Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, Bessemer & Lake Erie, and Illinois Central. By 2018, CN’s straight airequipped C408s had begun to steal ore assignments away from the older EMD power, and several of these GEs are featured in this program. We also document BNSF local operations, with pairs of SD402s utilized on the Kelly Lake and Grand Rapids locals during our visits. For our final segment, we’ll explore the Northshore Mining Railroad between Silver Bay and Babbitt, Minnesota. Raw taconite ore and tailings trains are seen traversing Northshore Mining’s mainline, powered by an interesting combination of NSM SD403s and CEFX SD90MACs. Noteworthy locations include Railfan Rock, the MP 23 overpass, and Toimi.

From wildflowers to snowstorms, trains are viewed in all four seasons, adding to the variety. A little wildlife is seen and heard as well, with an Osprey making an appearance at Highland, spring peeper frogs calling at Waldo, an American Goldfinch tearing apart some thistle in Two Harbors, and a turtle spending a little time out in the sun south of Mountain Iron. From the clear, cold waters of Lake Superior to the mines and pellet plants of the Iron Range, this video documents the unique railroad operations and the natural splendor of Minnesota’s iron ore country. Footage era 20032018.

Coverage area:

DMIR:
Two Harbors, MN to Iron Junction, MN
Mountain Iron, MN to Duluth, MN

BNSF:
Hibbing, MN
Superior, WI to Floodwood, MN

NSM:
Silver Bay, MN to Toimi, MN

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