On a beautiful September 20, 1991, a LTV Mining (former Erie Mining) taconite train slowly unloads over the dock at Taconite Harbor, Minnesota. The train is pulled by EMD F9A No. 4213, GP38 No. 4215, F9B No. 4225 and F9A No. 4210. Two lake boats are docked below. Up front is the Adam E. Cornelius, a 680-foot vessel sailing for American Steamship Co., and behind is the Charles M. Beeghly, a 806-foot boat from the Interlake Steamship Company fleet. Over the years, the Adam E. Cornelius has earned a reputation of being a “hard luck” boat—it has been grounded several times, lost power in open water, struck an Interstate Highway bridge, suffered major ice damage—yet still remains active today!
