Steaming taconite pellets move south down the CN Rainy sub after loading at the Minorca mine just outside Virginia, MN.

Passing through the tight confines of S. Fairbanks with its big Norway pines and aspen on either side of the tracks.

Loads of pellets round the curve at Highland Lake and will meet a northbound empty before continuing on.

Minorca mine made iron ore pellets pass by Wales along the Iron Range sub as they travel down to Two Harbors, MN.

Racing towards Two Harbors with a mix of clouds and sun, CN 2027 is in full sun for a few more feet as they approach Brimson, MN on the CN Iron Range sub.

Coming to the end of their journey from the Minorca mine with 145 carloads of iron ore pellets, CN 2027 knocks down the signal entering the yard at Two Harbors, MN.

Pellets from the Minorca mine make their way south on the CN Iron Range sub at Biwabik with evidence of operations from the mine visible in the background. Also interesting is the Plasser-Theurer ... (more)

It was neat to see DMIR 400 and 404 leading an iron ore train down the Iron Range Sub.

A small thunderstorm cools things off and gets the mosquitoes moving while CN 2007 keeps the iron ore pellets moving heading down the CN Iron Range sub just past the Ramshaw diamond.

A trio of Dash 8s and 145 ore cars loaded with still steaming iron ore pellets quietly glide along the CN Iron Range sub at m.p. 65 heading for Two Harbors, MN on another Canadian wildfire smoke c... (more)

After departing the Minorca mine and dropping down the southside of the Laurentian Divide, CN 2031 next prepares for a meet at the former DW&P yard at Virginia before continuing on towards Two Har... (more)

Loaded iron ore train from the Minorca mine to Two Harbors, MN slowly creeps down the siding at Virginia while a loaded sand train is full throttle gaining speed and momentum about to start the cl... (more)

Ore from the Minorca mine moves south as the sun begins to rise over the trees.

As they climb the grade into Allen Jct. they are also slowing for a meet and greet with an empty coming up from Two Harbors, MN on this cold day.

Kind of a rare event when one of the Dash 8s suffered mechanical failure with DMIR 400 and DMIR 404 being called from Two Harbors to run up to the Minorca mine and "rescue" the train and... (more)