Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Time is running out for the last light of the day, as well as the trio of 35 year old General Electric Dash 8's pulling a northbound train of empty ore jennies back to MinnTac through Nomi Junction, MN.
After holding for a northbound train of grain empties to clear onto the Missabe Sub, the engineer of this ore train was in no mood to wait a moment longer than necessary to get his train back to the mine for reloading, and end his working day. The 7FDL-16 prime movers happily obliged the hogger's swipe of the throttle with the smoke and sound that have endeared many a fan to these locomotives, and eventually a surge of speed that did not abate until the train had cleared the junction.
In the two weeks since I shot this image, the population of active Dash 8's in the twin ports region has dwindled to 6, with those remaining working on borrowed time until two more pairs of AC44C6M rebuilds have their 'straight air' modifications completed in the diesel shops at Proctor. If anyone has been on the fence about visiting the iron range this fall, I suggest doing it now, before the sun sets on these locomotives once and for all.
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Time is running out for the last light of the day, as well as the trio of 35 year old General Electric Dash 8's pulling a northbound train of empty ore jennies back to MinnTac through Nomi Junction, MN.
After holding for a northbound train of grain empties to clear onto the Missabe Sub, the engineer of this ore train was in no mood to wait a moment longer than necessary to get his train back to the mine for reloading, and end his working day. The 7FDL-16 prime movers happily obliged the hogger's swipe of the throttle with the smoke and sound that have endeared many a fan to these locomotives, and eventually a surge of speed that did not abate until the train had cleared the junction.
In the two weeks since I shot this image, the population of active Dash 8's in the twin ports region has dwindled to 6, with those remaining working on borrowed time until two more pairs of AC44C6M rebuilds have their 'straight air' modifications completed in the diesel shops at Proctor. If anyone has been on the fence about visiting the iron range this fall, I suggest doing it now, before the sun sets on these locomotives once and for all.