Past News Reports
(Yesterday's News is Tomorrow's
History)
Iron Ore Roads
Dave Schauer
March 2007 (courtesy The Ore
Extra):
DM&IR: Proctor Derailments... Spring was not kind to operations at
both the north and south ends of Proctor Yard. On March 16 an empty
mini-quad split a switch at the north end of the yard and derailed. Local CN
crews had that minor derailment cleaned up the following day.
Then just over a day later, at roughly 3am on March 18, the
22:30 Proctor Roadswitch split a switch at the sound end of the yard just
north of East 2nd Street, derailing SD38s 214, 201 and eight empty high side
ore cars. The train had been headed back to Proctor from Dock 6 when the
accident happened. With East 2nd Street being the only direct access between
both sides of the city for emergency responders, CN borrowed two BNSF
switchers from Rices Point in Duluth to pull the balance of the train off of
the crossing and open the road (CN had no engines south of the derailment
site and the train was blocking the south switch out of Proctor near
milepost 7.1). The non-derailed cars were then pulled into Proctor Yard by
the switchers. Derailment specialist R. J. Corman from Fargo arrived at
Proctor in late morning to begin the clean-up process. A ruptured fuel tank
on 201 initiated a response from local environmental crews.
Locomotive Notes... National Railway Equipment (NRE) released
SD40-3 No. 408 in late February wearing a fresh coat of CN black and red.
The SD40-3s are being rewired (from Woodward CLC to Qtron) after they are
bought by CN as their leases allow. Most recently 411 and 412 have been
purchased by CN. Expect all of the 400s that come off lease and be purchased
by CN. Missabe 407 is also at NRE (Dixmoor, Illinois) for rewiring and
repainting. In addition, 406 was spotted in early April repainted in CN
colors.
Veteran SD-M No. 301 suffered another ailment after having
been back on the property for only a few months after returning from repair.
On February 16 it arrived in the Chicago area for evaluation and repair.
Escanaba E-Rail Season... On January 1, 2007, the first
E-Rail train of the season departed Proctor for loading at Minorca and
delivery to CN's ex-C&NW port at Escanaba, Michigan. Minorca routes their
ore through Escanaba during the winter as the Lake Michigan port enjoys a
longer shipping season than that of Two Harbors on Lake Superior, the normal
port for movement of Minorca ore. Four train sets were in this rotation,
with three being made of up of 96 cars of ex-DM&IR mini-quads while the
fourth set consisted of former Algoma Central ore cars that WC had converted
to ballast cars. Motive power consisted of two 3-unit sets of gray WC (ex-GCFX)
SD40-3s in the 6900-series plus one 3-unit set of former DM&IR SD40-3s in
the 400-series. The trains (U-755 for empties and U-754 for loads) ran on a
daily basis provided crews and equipment were available. Of interest is that
a portion of the route these trains take across northern Wisconsin is used
only for these moves and is rumored to be a candidate for abandonment if the
Minorca contract is not renewed this year.
Air Pollution Control... In December the DM&IR (CN) was fined
$58,000 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for alleged dust control
violations at its Duluth and Two Harbors docks. The railroad recorded eight
violations from 2005 through the first half of 2006 and this was the sixth
fine the railroad has paid since 2000. In 2006 CN began work on installing a
water dust control system on Dock 6 in Duluth that includes pipes on the
approach to the dock. That work is expected to be done in 2007.
Yellowstone 225... An effort to put the Mallet 225 on the
state and national historical register has been derailed. Minnesota's
Historic Preservation Office has determined that the locomotive is not
eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. "While
the area offers the visitor a variety of off-the-highway recreational and
viewing opportunities," wrote Susan Roth of the Minnesota Historic
Preservation Office, "the modern, park-like setting in which the locomotive
is located does not evoke the original conditions in which this equipment
operated." The city decided to go with the park after it rejected a request
from the Shriner's to build a building on the site that resembled an old
time railroad depot.
The 65-year-old steam locomotive, a Yellowstone type 2-8-8-4,
that sits on the site was built for the DM&IR in 1941. It has a total engine
weight of 695,040 pounds. Known as Old Runaway and later as Old
Hard Luck, it was ordered by the DM&IR and leased to the U.S. Government
to serve in the war effort.
It became an icon for Proctor when the DM&IR donated the
mammoth mallet to Proctor in August 1963. The shrine to all Proctor railroad
men and women sits majestically astride Clubhouse Hill, its 127 feet, 8
inches silhouetted against the skyline. The huge locomotive is a favorite of
rail-fans. Daily throughout the summer tourists stop to photograph and
measure the second most powerful engine on earth. An effort is underway to
paint the engine, tender, and caboose.
Odds & Ends... On January 14, 2007, an LPG tank car was
positioned at the new gas distributor facility located at the north end of
Proctor Yard. This is believed to be the first delivery by rail of gas to
the distribution facility.
A 2-mile portion of CN-owned track in Morgan Park that is
part of the "Duluth Transfer" line linking Steelton Yard and Riverside
Junction in Duluth is being sought after by local government agencies as
part of a broader plan to resurrect rail passenger service between Duluth
and the Twin Cities and local commuter service. The line has not been used
for revenue moves in over 15 years and would need work to put it back in
service. BNSF owns the eastern end of the line. The segment carries a price
tag of $700,000.
In February the call times for the Proctor Roadswitch were
shifted slightly to 06:30, 14:30, and 22:30.
April 2007:
Canadian National: On January 1, 2007 CN
resumed the seasonal (January-March) taconite pellet ore moves between the
Minorca Mine near Virginia, Minnesota, and the port of Escanaba in
Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The mine routes their ore through Escanaba
during the winter as the Lake Michigan port enjoys a longer shipping season
than that of Two Harbors on Lake Superior, the normal port for movement of
Minorca ore. Four trains are in this rotation, with three being made of up
96-car sets of ex-Duluth Missabe and Iron Range (DM&IR) ore cars while the
fourth set consists of former Algoma Central ore cars that WC had converted
to ballast cars. Motive power consists of two three-unit sets of gray WC
(ex-GCFX) SD40-3s in the 6900-series plus one three-unit set of former DM&IR
SD40-3s in the 400-series. The trains (U755 for empties and U754 for loads)
run on a daily basis provided crews and equipment are available. Of interest
to fans is that a portion of the route these trains take across northern
Wisconsin is used only for these moves and is rumored to be a candidate for
abandonment if the Minorca contract is not renewed.
In Escanaba the Dumper Job that shifts cars through the unloading sheds is
now a former IC SD40-2 (No. 6058) along with an ex-AC (No. 13) caboose used
for remote control equipment. Ore moves in the Upper Peninsula are now in
the hands of the gray WC SD40-3s as the last of the ex-WC SD45 fleet is
retired.
Quebec Cartier Mining (QCM): AC4400CW locomotives Nos.
17 and 18 that were damaged in a runaway crash of a 150-car ore train in
Port Cartier, Quebec, on October 6, 2006, were transported to RELCO in
Albia, Iowa, for evaluation and possible repairs. Fortunately the crew
managed to escape before the train collided with another at the dumper
house. In addition, AC4400CW No. 15 was damaged one week later when the log
train it was powering collided with maintenance equipment, resulting in the
fatality of a maintenance of way mechanic. The 15 is moving on its own
wheels for repair.
Cliffs Northshore Mining (Minnesota): Former
Northshore Mining (NSM) SW1000 1214 was spotted at National Railway
Equipment in Dixmoor, Illinois, on January 6, 2007 with a new number – NREX
207. NSM SD40-2 657 was also in the shop getting an engine change out. On
January 3, 2007 rare SD28 1236 moved leased Alaska GP40-2 3004 to Norshor
Junction for movement off the property. NSM had leased Alaska 3002 and 3004
for nearly a year. Four of the nine former Reserve Mining (predecessor of
NSM) SD38-2s are headed to Iowa Interstate to join the four they already
have. The ninth and final ex-Reserve SD38-2 is on Progressive rail in
Minnesota.
Quebec North Shore & Labrador: Union Switch & Signal
Inc. (US&S) has been awarded a contract for the major re-signaling of the
QNS&L. The project involves the upgrade of 1954-installed relay-based CTC
interlocking system and also includes the provision of the Enhanced Remote
Monitoring package, which will enable the railroad--from the Operations
Control Center--to monitor the status of interlocking equipment for all
locations. The first six locations will be installed by the end of 2006.
This will be followed by 42 location installations in the year 2007 and 55
locations installation by the end of 2008.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe: To help relieve pressure
on having to lease steel hoppers for all-rail ore moves, BNSF will start
taking delivery in first quarter 2007 of an additional 220 taconite cars
from Johnstown America. BNSF continues to run its heaviest trains with 183
cars from both Hibbing Taconite and Keewatin Taconite to their dock at
Superior, Wisconsin (Allouez). -Patrick Sirois, Pete Jensen, Ken Lanovich,
OreRail Yahoo Group, Missabe Railroad Historical Society
May
2007:
Canadian National – Minnesota: Ore operations in
former DM&IR territory continue with few changes since the purchase in May
of 2004. Only four of the 20 former SD40-3s have been repainted into CN
colors (400-402, 404) although 407 was at National Railway Equipment (NRE)
in Dixmoor, Illinois, during February for painting. The leases on 12 SD40-3s
(400-409, 411-412) have been purchased by CN with all 20 expected to be
purchased outright in the coming months. Other older ex-Missabe units that
have been sent off line for repairs have returned still wearing DM&IR maroon
and gold with the one modification being a solid yellow frame stripe as
mandated by the FRA.
The five remaining veteran SD-Ms (rebuilt SD9/SD18s) 301, 303, 308, 316 and
317 remain on the roster although 301 was sent off-line in February for
repairs. The DM&IR ore car fleet is equipped with a secondary air brake
system that requires a special control in the locomotive cab, hence the
reason much of the Missabe fleet has remained on home rails. DM&IR SD38s 202
and 223 have been assigned to work former WC territory in local service.
This assignment is expected to last into early 2007. The fleet of DM&IR ore
cars continues in service with the cars continuing past their mandatory 50
year retirement age by way of an FRA age waiver. Some cars have had
reflective yellow stripes applied to their flanks. Reports indicate that
replacement cars for the aging fleet are being considered. The call times
for the Proctor Roadswitch Jobs changed slightly in February to 06:30,
14:30, and 22:30.
Canadian National – Upper Michigan: There are three ore
trains currently operating with pairs of GCFX/WC SD40-3s on the CN Ore
Subdivision (former WC ore operations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula). A
fourth train is operated as needed. The dumper job in Escanaba, Michigan,
uses a single SD40-3 for power, with former Illinois Central SD40-2s filling
in. --SORE 1 (U74181) usually handles all-rail ore from the Tilden Mine to
Algoma Steel, freight for the mines, and general mixed freight between
Escanaba and the Marquette Range (Lake Superior & Ishpeming). The
Tilden-Algoma all-rail sets consist of 40 to 50 steel hoppers with a mix of
GCCX, GIEX, LSI, SSAM, IC, and ex-BN cars. Mixed freights A411 and A412
handle this ore between the Gladstone/Escanaba area and Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario. Call time for this train at Escanaba has been 11:30. During the
winter the car count rises to 60 cars per train while Lake Superior shipping
is on seasonal hiatus. --SORE 2 (U74381) and SORE 3 (U74581) typically
handle Empire Mine to Escanaba ore in 100-car trains made up of the classic
SSAM (former Chicago & North Western) ore cars. SORE 2 will also spot
limestone at the Empire Mine during the summer. Call time for SORE 2 is
23:59 and 07:00 for SORE 3. CN continues to scrap former C&NW ore cars at
Coplin's Scrap Yard in Escanaba.
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway: On December 4, 2006,
five new General Electric (GE) AC4400CWs were shipped to Quebec North Shore
and Labrador Railway (QNS&L). Numbered 421 to 425, the units were
transferred from GE's facility in Erie, Pennsylvania, then over Canadian
National to Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec. From there they where taken by the
Matapedia and Gulf Railway (CFMG) to Mont-Joli before being pulled to
Matane's wharf spur, then loaded on the Georges-Alexandre Lebel Rail Ferry
on December 3. The boat docked in Pointe-Noire, Sept-Îles (Quebec) the
following day and the AC4400CWs headed for the Quebec North Shore and
Labrador diesel shops to be readied for service. This is the second order of
GE units this year for QNS&L. In February, the Iron Ore Company of Canada
(owners of the QNS&L) received four AC4400CWs by boat. Each unit cost
$2,400,000 (US) and are equipped with the latest GE electronic options in
order to provide effective tractive effort and easy handling of QNS&L's
240-car trains. The engines are also equipped with GE/Harris Locotrol system
for mid-train helper service. The latest order was the second opportunity
for QNS&L to use the rail ferry dock in Pointe-Noire. The dock, adapted for
COGEMA's Georges-Alexandre Lebel ferry, was constructed in the 1990s and its
first use was in the summer of 2006. In June, QNS&L transferred to the south
shore of the St. Lawrence River five used SD40-2 CLC engines (303, 304, 305,
306, 308) and two SD40-2 units (259, 261). They are stored in CFMG's Mont-Joli
Yard and are still listed for sale through Beacon Locomotives. Recently, QNS&L
equipped its Dash-9 locomotives with GE Automatic Engine Stop and Start (AESS)
device. This allows the locomotives to be automatically started and stopped
when temperature is over 39F. The system has a positive impact on fuel
saving.
Cliffs Northshore Mining (Minnesota): In November North Shore
Mining (NSM) completed a locomotive swap with National Railway Equipment
that saw their SW1000 number 1214 being traded for SW1200 number 1216
(ex-BNSF 3531, BN 183, NP 124). Also on the property is NREX SD40-2 number
5418 (ex-CP 5418, KCS 673). Both 1216 and 5418 are painted in NSM's blue and
white scheme, although only 1216 is lettered for NSM. Joining 5418 in
mainline service is leased yellow-orange RLCX SD40 3005, which was spotted
en route to NSM on February 18, 2007. NSM leases six axle units while its
own fleet of SD40 type units are cycled through for maintenance/overhaul.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe: BNSF is exploring the
feasibility of serving the Mittal Minorca Mine near Virginia, Minnesota (a
former Inland Steel property). Currently the plant is served by CN (DM&IR)
but BNSF has trackage rights to the facility and would like to handle the
mine's production through their Allouez (Superior, Wisconsin) dock. Timing
would be late 2007 for this new service. -Patrick Sirois, Pete Jensen,
OreRail Yahoo Group, Missabe Railroad Historical Society
