Northshore Mining's Crude Iron Ore Train 5/14/24

The call of white throated sparrows, gentle winds brushing against the Northwoods' evergreens, and the distant rumble of heavy iron ore train. These are the sounds you'll hear in this rather isolated region of Minnesota. This is a place where winter can easily get you stranded, summer is limited, and you'll need a winter coat to survive mornings in mid-May. Cell service is essentially non-existent, road traffic is sparse, and signs of civilization are limited. However, the sight of the Northshore Mining Company's train will remind you where you are. The Iron Range. Running 47 miles from Babbitt to Silver Bay, the NSM line opened in 1955. A modest interchange with CN exists at Northshor Junction. Around 6 trains a day run back and forth on the line, with this one leaving Babbitt around 5 AM. North of the village of Toimi, the train is reflected in the marsh by the early morning sun. Nature's sounds are disrupted by the blaring of an SD70ACe's horn at one of the few crossings, until returning to peace once the heavy train has passed. We caught it again just outside of Silver Bay where the load of crude iron ore was on its way to the processing plant on Lake Superior. They'll be turned into taconite pellets, loaded into freighters, and end up at a steel mill along the Great Lakes. Despite being in the middle of seemingly nowhere, this train plays a crucial role in the production of domestic steel.

Train Info:
Time: 6:32AM
Origin: Babbitt, MN
Destination: Silver Bay, MN
Locomotives:
NSMX 674 - EMD SD70ACe
NSMX 671 - EMD SD70ACe

Links:

[AmtrakGuy]

Thanks for watching! The scenery out on the NSM line was amazing. Would definitely like to try and check it out at a couple new spots whenever I'm in the area again. My photos of the train can be found on Flickr, Twitter, and Instagram:

[BNSFTrains]

Fun Fact: That these two Units were Ex CSX SD70ACes.

674 was ex CSX 4848
While 671 was ex CSX 4833 with both used to been in the YN3 Scheme.

[tvpigymnrailfan]

a Minnesota railroad thats so isolated from the rail system not many even knows it exists

[americansaxon]

I am from Cleveland. I know that logo from your thumbnail. They are second largest steel markers in the country. Cleveland Cliffs is rockin' n rollin'

[ChadsRailfanExperience]

Thinking of going back up there in October to catch some NSM action. I'm torn between there and West Virginia coal country

[BNSFrailfan]

It’s funny to me how an isolated mining railroad with almost no outside connections has better power (by operation, not by looks of course) for its ore trains than CN, at least until the AC44C6Ms for CN come in.

[johnosborn]

Could you talk about how the steam icon Union Pacific 844, and how it has never been retired?

[RandomRailfan]

Nice shots, I completely forgot about this railroad lol. Is it considered a class two or three railroad?

[railroading]

do u do any writing? love the description.

[MidWestRailFan-zeq]

What kind of railcars are these? never seen one like it

[dfw_railfanner]

Only 37 views?! You fell off today Jared!