DM&IR 108 at Proctor, Minnesota on September 11, 1956
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range diesel 108 works in the giant ore sorting yards at Proctor while several older steam locomotives steam and chuff in the background. The 108 is an Electro-Motive SD9 built in 1956 and came to the railroad as part of a 9-unit order earlier in the year. Although the Missabe began investing in diesel-electrics in 1953 with a 15-unit order for EMD SW9 switchers, it was this initial order of SD9 locomotives that eventually spelled doom for steam locomotives on the DM&IR. Steam engines were built for specific uses. Smaller engines worked the yards and industries. Mid-size engines worked mid-size road trains. The big mallets pulled the heaviest trains because they had more weight on drivers. The diesels on the other hand, with 1,750 horse-power and 387,000 lbs. of tractive effort each (plus the capability to run multiple diesel units together from a single control stand) meant that nearly any amount of pulling power required could be built from a group of connected diesel units. The SD9s could get nearly any job done, with just a single crew, without the need to keep many different sized locomotives on the roster for specialized duty. This picture shows the very beginning of motive power standardization on the Missabe. Used initially in the yard, it wouldn't be long before diesels like the 108 were hooked up in 2, 3, and 4 units sets to run every kind of train on DM&IR—including passenger trains.
DM&IR 108 at Proctor, Minnesota on September 11, 1956
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range diesel 108 works in the giant ore sorting yards at Proctor while several older steam locomotives steam and chuff in the background. The 108 is an Electro-Motive SD9 built in 1956 and came to the railroad as part of a 9-unit order earlier in the year. Although the Missabe began investing in diesel-electrics in 1953 with a 15-unit order for EMD SW9 switchers, it was this initial order of SD9 locomotives that eventually spelled doom for steam locomotives on the DM&IR. Steam engines were built for specific uses. Smaller engines worked the yards and industries. Mid-size engines worked mid-size road trains. The big mallets pulled the heaviest trains because they had more weight on drivers. The diesels on the other hand, with 1,750 horse-power and 387,000 lbs. of tractive effort each (plus the capability to run multiple diesel units together from a single control stand) meant that nearly any amount of pulling power required could be built from a group of connected diesel units. The SD9s could get nearly any job done, with just a single crew, without the need to keep many different sized locomotives on the roster for specialized duty. This picture shows the very beginning of motive power standardization on the Missabe. Used initially in the yard, it wouldn't be long before diesels like the 108 were hooked up in 2, 3, and 4 units sets to run every kind of train on DM&IR—including passenger trains.