The weekend brought a forecast of clear, perfect weather. And I was going to the twin ports with Tom Carello and Jim Alain. Despite drastic predictions about the state of fall foliage on the Iron Range, thankfully, there was nothing to panic over.
I relished the chance to see a few trains of the Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range railroad. Though purchased by the evil Tomato Worm, the day to day operations of the railroad continue much the same. One thing I miss as various railroads are gobbled up is how the character and individuality is disappearing. Pride in their business guided the Missabe's appearance, from the historic arrowhead logo, to the bright signs on company property. The DM&IR was never afraid to put its name on its locomotives or cars; it didn't hide behind a dip-job paint scheme, or direct everyone to its corporate website.
It is this class and character that will be lost as a faceless multinational replaced a home-grown endeavour - and railroading will be worse off for it.
We arrived at mid morning and almost immediately caught a southbound BNSF train at Saunders.
With the scanner telling of a meet, we raced down along the tracks until we found the other train. It was traveling slightly faster than expected, but we managed a shot anyways. BNSF seems to decorate every crossing with a multitude of little stubby signs and other assorted debris, much to the chagrin of this photographer.
After shooting the meet, we caught the coal train again at a crossing down the line.
The coal train was followed by some sort of merchandise train, which featured a locomotive that BNSF had sold to a leasing company, then decided that they wanted again, and leased from the company.
While we wandered back towards Duluth, we hard that a DM&IR train was headed up the hill to Proctor. Tom put the car in warp-drive while I silently prayed for tunnel motors.
While no tunnel motors were to be had, three SD38s weren't too bad. And a consist that perfectly complimented the explosion of fall color made this my shot of the trip.
Looks like CN could do to patch a few of those spots in the paint. Sadly, though, this isn't likely to happen.
Up in Proctor Yard. Isn't that a neat switch stand?
Another tip-off on the scanner lead us down to "The bridge right next to Oliver Bridge," for lack of a better name, where we met the Tomato Worm itself.
A hustle up the hill brought us to Nopeming Junction, where we shot the Tomato Worm again. Now, who says the color is gone?
"Hot," yes, but not for Tomato Worms.
Down in the BNSF yard we shot some of the power sitting around.
Again, the scanner drew us up to Proctor Hill, where a limestone train was growling up from the docks. While this spot is infected with light poles and trees, a nice tight crop nicely shows the city and ore docks.
As an added bonus, I got my tunnel motor, and an SD-M to boot. Shadows were getting long, but Photoshop came to the rescue.
Sunset brought us to the boat dock opposite the Oliver Bridge, where we shot a BNSF ore empties train.
And, of course, the sunset ...
Night shots on the BNSF.
