Day one of the new year and the leader of the morning loads train from the mine down to the plant matches the sky. A good day in the land of sky blue waters.

The push/pull SD40s on the NSM tailings train grind their way up the grade and through the curves out of Silver Bay as they head for the tailings pond among the brilliant fall colors.

Climbing out the Lake Superior basin and away from Silver Bay heading into the sun running through the Superior National forest to Babbitt and the mine to drop off these empties then tying onto a ... (more)

After running light up to Norshor Jct. to pick up bentonite hoppers interchanged by CN, a trio of SD40-3's head back to the plant at Silver Bay while a track worker runs up the east main.

Drifting back down to Silver Bay from the tailing basin.

Quietly rolling down the west main on a cold winter afternoon half way between the mine at Babbitt, MN and the plant on the shores of Lake Superior at Silver Bay, MN.

A cold winter afternoon at M.P. 28 along the NSM mainline finds a loaded taconite train heading east towards the plant at Silver Bay, MN with what can only be described as a unique consist of a pa... (more)

5am loads catch the only sunlight of the day as they descend into Silver Bay.

Sporting a patriotic air horn painted red, white and blue, this 30 car empty tailings train is just out of Babbitt.

Soon after a tailings train went south, the two CIT leased SD90MACs came up the hill heading to Silver Bay.

Tailings train heads away.

With their 1x1 power configuration, an empty tailings train runs down into Silver Bay among the peak fall colors.

Reaching the approximate half way point on their 47 mile trip between the plant and the mine while passing through one of only three public road crossings on the route.

Pulling up the grade out of the Lake Superior basin, three SD40-3's are barking hard as they pull the empties back inland from Silver Bay to the mine at Babbitt. The NSM nose logo was the frostin... (more)

The empty tailings train coasting back downgrade to the plant at Silver Bay.