TwinPortsRail.com

Kevin Madsen posted a photo:

On my way home from the Cities, I actually saw a headlight coming east on the Brainerd Sub. at from I-35 at Black Bear. A quick detour into Carlton for the coal train, but BNSF had four trains in the area and the coal loads held at the junction. The only train I was able to shoot was these tac. loads just eeking out a shot at West Chub Lake.

BNSF 9874 shoves east on a Keewatin Tac. train heading east to Boylston for a crew change and a ride south on the Hinckley Sub. on May 12, 2012.

Kevin Madsen posted a photo:

On my way down to the Cities last Friday, I noticed that BNSF was pulling a coal empty set away from Rice's Point, after it had been stored on the North Shore Scenic. With a hole in the clouds, I briefly detoured off I-35 at 40th Ave. for SD70MAC 8883 leading Detroit Edison empties under the CN docks and past the GLF's Arthur Anderson on 5/11/12.

Kevin Madsen posted a photo:

Finally things have greened up, up here, even though it seems like it has been green "down south" forever.

Here CN 2134 and 5303 bring a U719 around the Bear Trap curve just north of Grand Lake, MN on 5/16/12. These are Minorca limestone loads that travel north on the Missabe Sub. out of Proctor.

Kevin Madsen posted a photo:

A beautiful afternoon finds CN 8917 leading a long northbound manifest under Becks Rd. in far western Duluth on May 14, 2012. CN 2648 and 2650 were shoving on the rear of this train which I think was M349.

DMIR 321 posted a photo:

Rolling through far eastern Duluth Missabe Railroad Historical Society former Missabe SD-M 316 leads LSRM's former Missabe SD18 193 on another 120+ car set of coal empties back to the BNSF.

DMIR 321 posted a photo:

Coming by the location known as Lemon Drop Hill the 316/193 drift downgrade near Lake Superior with 120+ coal empties.

DMIR 321 posted a photo:

316/193 at Lemon Drop just before ducking under the London Rd/I-35 interchange.

DMIR 321 posted a photo:

One of 70 cars (out of a 1000+ in storage on the NSSR) that were relettered to SPSX by a team from the LSRM prior to movement back into service.

Missabefan posted a photo:

An old DM&IR boxcar being used for storage. The Missabe stuff is still around.

Missabefan posted a photo:

A west loader for Minntac works it's way north through Gilbert and will meet a southbound east loader from Minntac at Sparta.

Missabefan posted a photo:

An east loader departs Minntac with 137 loads going past the IRRRB mineland reclaimation project at Mott Pit in Mountain Iron. Named for Fred R. Mott, an Assistant General Superintendent of Oliver Iron Mining a division of U.S. Steel Corp., the pit began shipments after WWII when it opened in 1949. It shipped 1.2 million tons before being abandoned in 1953. In 1985 the city of Mountain Iron created a road and public access to the pit and regularly stocks it with game fish.

Missabefan posted a photo:

Every now and then while trackside a person comes across something that catches their eye. You have to ask yourself-How do you steal 900' of rail?
That's one impressive garden RR.

Mr. Missabe posted a photo:

The LSRM's No. 7 at Ironworld around 1985. It has since been returned to the museum. The 44-tonner (ex Air Force) I believe is still there.

shawn_christie1970 posted a photo:

CP train 608 lead by ICE 6445, ICE 6100 & ICE 6217 crosses the CP/BN diamond in Crystal, MN. Shot from the new Hwy 81 overpass that has a nice walkway on both sides.

shawn_christie1970 posted a photo:

NTWMOM makes it way up the Monticello sub with 10 nuclear fuel rod casks. Today they made it has far as Albertville where Xcel Engery personal inspected the loads. While taking this photo I had the county sheriff pull up behind me with flashing lights. He had no issues with me taking photos and told me to take my time and was just stopping to make sure I wasn't having truck problems.

shawn_christie1970 posted a photo:

Nuclear fuel rod casks make their way up the BNSF Monticello line. This is my first time shooting from this overpass at the new 81/610 intersection. There is a nice solid 5 foot cement wall you have to pull yourself up above, then shoot through a metal fence. I only had about 10 seconds to jump out of the truck and get into position. I think it was worth it.

shawn_christie1970 posted a photo:

Under some light rain the NTWMOM starts a rare move up to the Monticello nuclear power plant. Word on the street is that this is the first time since 1982 that nuclear fuel rod casks have gone up to the plant. Don't know if that is true or not but I'm pretty certain it has been a while.

shawn_christie1970 posted a photo:

SOO 4439 and 4412 lead the CP wayfreight westbound out of the west metro. Saw these two moving light power the morning before on the way to work.

Mr. Missabe posted a photo:

On my way home from a business meeting in Minneapolis I received an alert from Kevin that a 3-unit limestone move had stalled on Proctor Hill behind McDonalds and two more GEs had come to the rescue. The five second-hand GEs made quite the sight (and sound) as they started up again. For us fans it was a great place to stall.

Missabefan posted a photo:

The former DM&IR depot at Forbes this past winter looking a little rough but still standing.