A trio of EMD SD40-3's keep the ore cars in check as they roll down grade from the U.S. Steel Minntac plant southward for Two Harbors.

The trio of SD40-3's pull 135 cars of steaming pellets down from the U.S. Steel Minntac plant, which can be seen through the trees, and past the small yard at Mountain Iron on the way towards Two ... (more)

Been a while now that we have seen two maroon Missabe units running the Keenan Switch on the Range, but back in the day this was all you would see.

The stick seanson (otherwise known as late fall) has given way to early winter and snow is falling on northern Minnesota's Iron Range. After completing a delivery to Minntac, the Keenan Switch mak... (more)

CN 6255 and company come down from U.S. Steel Minntac's east side loading pocket passing a contractor in charge of removing some of the extra trackage in the Mtn. Iron yard.

DM&IR 400 (SD40-3) leads down the hill with CN 5548 (SD60F) and CN 2107 (C40-8) helping out as they are moving the taconite pellets south from Minntac bound for the CN dock at Two Harbors,MN on th... (more)

Steam from the fresh made taconite pellets rises off the cars as DM&IR 211 leads a colorful consist down from the U.S. Steel Minntac plant on Minnesota's Iron Range.

The Keenan Switch pulls down to the Mt. Iron Yard to drop off and pick up a few log cars.

Fresh steamy pellets on a 80F morning head out for Two Harbors, MN

A pair of Missabe SD38-2's sandwich the Illinois Central 6250 as they run up to Minntac to load taconite off the west side. Most people shoot the southbound train as it's leaving Minntac but for ... (more)

On a cold and clear morning, Illinois Central 6256 leads GTW 6221 and I.C. 6254 down the hill from Minntac with fresh steaming pellets that are on the way to Two Harbors, MN and the docks there.

A Road Run out of Biwabik shoves empty cars onto the rock track at Minntac. In the distance is part of the mine's expansive open pit iron ore operation, the largest in the United States.

A sharp looking ex-C&NW/UP Dash-8 leads a loaded ore train out of the Minntac plant. Seven miles later this train would derail a number of its new ore cars on the west wye switch at Iron Junction.... (more)

Snow and steam all over as a trio of SD40-3's pull down from Minntac with 137 loads of iron ore pellets which will end up at Two Harbors.

Another train of taconite pellets decends down from U.S. Steel Minntac bound for Two Harbors, MN.