DMIR Thunderbird shuttle job arriving Thunderbird

Back when the Missabe still interchanged with CN at the small yard near Shelton Jct. a person could see the changes happening before their very eyes. Here is the last days the DM&IR 308 (rebuilt ... (more)

a pair SDm's lead a southbound Thunderbird shuttle train through Iron Jct, MN

After leaveing Steelton, Mn as trailing units behind a couple DMIR SD38's this pair of SD-M's found themselves on the point of this train after it was split in two at Prentice due to loss of air p... (more)

Thunderbird shuttle

The last of its breed on the DMIR/CN - rebuilt SD18 No. 308 (177) muscles 40 empty BN coal cars back to Keenan from the power plant at Laskin (Hoyt Lakes).

Back when the Iron Range was worth shooting... while still possible, much harder today.

The last SD-M running on the ex-DMIR brings some cars back to Keenan Yard.

A matched DM&IR consist is southbound for the taconite plant at Forbes are seen crossing the St. Louis River.

Out of 22 rebuilt SD9/SD18s on the former DM&IR, only 308 and 316 remain in service but their days are numbered, along with every other maroon and gold engine.

DM&IR 308 outside the roundhouse with crane X-7

Veteran SD-M No. 308 leads the morning roadswitch to Duluth. The rail in the foreground is 112# rolled in 1941 (taken up when the second main was pulled in 2005).

Ore loads at Iron Junction behind a now-rare DM&IR SD-M. This unit was built by EMD in April 1960 as SD18 No. 177, and was rebuilt by the Missabe shop forces into SD-M No. 308 in 1988. Its days ... (more)

The 13:00 NWS hourly observation for Duluth reported -15F with a windchill of -39F. The cold, however, didn't stop the "Bentonite Express" from heading to Proctor.

One of several DM&IR SD18's spotted in action over a weekend in the Iron Range. Here the 308 is paired with SD38 215 as the Keenan switch drifts by and heads into the Fairlane taconite plant.