A thunderstorm has just cleared and early evening light bathes Proctor yard as a loaded limestone train for Minntac departs north. There are still plenty of older EMD units assigned to Proctor.
With the cold weather seemingly settling in across northern Minnesota, CN has called into service their old DMIR Difco side dumps for limestone service to the U.S. Steel Minntac plant for the wint... (more)
The ground remains damp from a thunderstorm that had just passed over Proctor yard as a limestone train prepares to depart for Minntac.
CN 5451 continues to lead the charge up the hill and is almost onto U.S. Steel, Minntac property with limestone loads on a fog filled afternoon.
On a cold but clear winter afternoon, GTW 5954 and crew roar north towards U.S. Steel Minntac with the limestone train.
A U-715 empty limestone train holds near the end of the double track Missabe Sub. for the U-714 loaded limestone train to clear before proceeding south back to Proctor while the loads will continu... (more)
Empty 56 car limestone train heads back to Proctor with a quad set of SD40-3's for power. Of note: CN has been installing new "Vader" type hooded signals along the Minntac Sub. and while not oper... (more)
A loaded limestone train approaches its destination at U.S. Steel's large Minntac (Minnesota Taconite) plant on the former DM&IR.
The fresh red paint on this former Oakway SD60 stands out in a sea of white as blowing snow drifts in the train. Welcome to an extended winter.
Feeling and looking like their home rails in the mountainous landscape of British Columbia, a pair of BCOL units ( and another C40-8 ) cut through the fog and drizzle of northern Minnesota while h... (more)
A pair of nice cowls lead a loaded limestone train into the late afternoon sun.
As the ordinary U-715 limestone empty from Minntac came into view something caught my eye that made it extrodinary. Along for the ride to Proctor where four hoppers and four Difco side dumps re-le... (more)
A pair of SD60Fs lead a Bessemer tunnel motor across the Cloquet River headed for Minntac with limestone.
Limestone empties pass under the former DW&P.
Limestone empties head back to Proctor.