Forgotten Neighbor
While countless fans flock to CN's former Missabe Road mainline to chase the ore trains behind their vintage power, their nextdoor neighbor is largely eschewed. But BNSF continues to be a major player in the ion ore business with exclusive access to two of the six currently producing taconite pellet plants in the Iron Range region. Serving the Keetac and Hibtacc plants of US Steel and Cleveland Cliffs in Keewatin and Hibbing respectively these facilities are west of the DMIR along legacy Great Northern Railway routes. While some ore moves via long all 'all rail' routings much of it flows to Superior and the massive ex GB Allouez ore yard and docks. The primary route for these trains among the heaviest in North America is via BNSF's Allouez, Lakes, and Casco Subdivisions. The latter basically parallels the former DMIR northward some places literally in sight of their competitor.
Despite this proximity you see comparatively very few photos of BNSF operations along the Casco. I suppose this makes sense given that trains are much less frequent and they run with mundane modern wide cabs and similarly modern ore hoppers. However there is an exception to that rule and we got intel that on this day the biweekly (I think) road local was to be heading south from Kelly Lake Yard with a lead unit still in Burlington Northern green.
After confirming with a friend at BNSF that a crew was indeed ordered and we took the leap of faith and drove 90 minutes north. Upon arrival we sure enough found the train built in the yard with three units and the advertised BN leader but all shut down and narry a soul around. But we gave it a bit and soon enough a taxi arrived, the units were fired up and the crew called for permission out of the yard. This is all welded rail, CTC, and 50 mph territory and with no opposition they got lights the length of the line 49 miles south to Brookston. After getting one shot of them pulling we drove 40 miles south (50 by car) for our second shot and made it with only minutes to spare.
BNSF's MKLLSUP (manifest Kelly Lake to Superior) is hammering at track speed southbound approaching the Hwy 8 at MP 63.2 on the Casco Sub. This trackage dates from 1901 when James J. Hill's Eastern Railway of Minnesota built north in pursuit of iron. In 1905 the railroad was leased to the Great Northern and two years later was outright purchased and has remained in the family ever since. Cascade Green SD40-2 BNSF 1943 (blt. Feb. 1979 as BN 7145) is trailed by rebuilt GP38-2 2240 (orginally blt. Sep. 1970 as straight GP38 ATSF 3551) and sibling SD40-2 1663 (blt. Mar. 1978 as BN 8012) with a long train of ore cars and general freight. This spot is almost exactly 2 1/2 miles due west of the famous Culver Curve on the Missabe that has probably been photographed more in day than this spot has been in a year!
The one thing I remember about this is how thrilled the crew seemed. Over on the CN it was mostly scowls and half hearted disdainfully flaccid waves but this guy had a giant smile and a huge enthusiastic wave the three times he saw us. Maybe BN guys are happier or maybe he just never sees railfans and was glad to finally get some love and recognition, but whatever the reason it sure was memorable and joyful!
Culver Township
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Thursday May 11, 2023
Forgotten Neighbor
While countless fans flock to CN's former Missabe Road mainline to chase the ore trains behind their vintage power, their nextdoor neighbor is largely eschewed. But BNSF continues to be a major player in the ion ore business with exclusive access to two of the six currently producing taconite pellet plants in the Iron Range region. Serving the Keetac and Hibtacc plants of US Steel and Cleveland Cliffs in Keewatin and Hibbing respectively these facilities are west of the DMIR along legacy Great Northern Railway routes. While some ore moves via long all 'all rail' routings much of it flows to Superior and the massive ex GB Allouez ore yard and docks. The primary route for these trains among the heaviest in North America is via BNSF's Allouez, Lakes, and Casco Subdivisions. The latter basically parallels the former DMIR northward some places literally in sight of their competitor.
Despite this proximity you see comparatively very few photos of BNSF operations along the Casco. I suppose this makes sense given that trains are much less frequent and they run with mundane modern wide cabs and similarly modern ore hoppers. However there is an exception to that rule and we got intel that on this day the biweekly (I think) road local was to be heading south from Kelly Lake Yard with a lead unit still in Burlington Northern green.
After confirming with a friend at BNSF that a crew was indeed ordered and we took the leap of faith and drove 90 minutes north. Upon arrival we sure enough found the train built in the yard with three units and the advertised BN leader but all shut down and narry a soul around. But we gave it a bit and soon enough a taxi arrived, the units were fired up and the crew called for permission out of the yard. This is all welded rail, CTC, and 50 mph territory and with no opposition they got lights the length of the line 49 miles south to Brookston. After getting one shot of them pulling we drove 40 miles south (50 by car) for our second shot and made it with only minutes to spare.
BNSF's MKLLSUP (manifest Kelly Lake to Superior) is hammering at track speed southbound approaching the Hwy 8 at MP 63.2 on the Casco Sub. This trackage dates from 1901 when James J. Hill's Eastern Railway of Minnesota built north in pursuit of iron. In 1905 the railroad was leased to the Great Northern and two years later was outright purchased and has remained in the family ever since. Cascade Green SD40-2 BNSF 1943 (blt. Feb. 1979 as BN 7145) is trailed by rebuilt GP38-2 2240 (orginally blt. Sep. 1970 as straight GP38 ATSF 3551) and sibling SD40-2 1663 (blt. Mar. 1978 as BN 8012) with a long train of ore cars and general freight. This spot is almost exactly 2 1/2 miles due west of the famous Culver Curve on the Missabe that has probably been photographed more in day than this spot has been in a year!
The one thing I remember about this is how thrilled the crew seemed. Over on the CN it was mostly scowls and half hearted disdainfully flaccid waves but this guy had a giant smile and a huge enthusiastic wave the three times he saw us. Maybe BN guys are happier or maybe he just never sees railfans and was glad to finally get some love and recognition, but whatever the reason it sure was memorable and joyful!
Culver Township
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Thursday May 11, 2023