CN 3313 South, south of Wolf, Iron Junction, Minn.
Since all the Dash 8–40Cs and most of the second generation, six-motor EMDs have disappeared from Canadian National's Iron Range operation in the last six months, I've heard some variation on a recurring lament from other photographers: "There's nothing left worth shooting up there."
As Train U79181-12 (Ore loads, Minntac Mine, Mountain Iron, Minn.–Two Harbors, Minn.) will attest: That's a steaming pile of bullshit.
Sure, the power — a captive fleet of rebuilt 3300-series AC44C6Ms equipped with Orinoco straight air — has a homogenized feel and stale look. But it's clean power, a reflection of the pride that propagates from Proctor. And on cool, humid mornings such as June 12, 2025, freshly baked taconite pellets radiate a mesmerizing steam that gets the eyes to dance. The auditory nerves get their own stimulation, too, when the still of the North Country is interrupted by the siren song of wheels and rapid tickety-tack of short cars rolling over switches and rail joints.
So, sure, the swan song for Dash 8s and SD40s is over. But I'm still going to buy the ticket and enjoy the show for years to come.
CN 3313 South, south of Wolf, Iron Junction, Minn.
Since all the Dash 8–40Cs and most of the second generation, six-motor EMDs have disappeared from Canadian National's Iron Range operation in the last six months, I've heard some variation on a recurring lament from other photographers: "There's nothing left worth shooting up there."
As Train U79181-12 (Ore loads, Minntac Mine, Mountain Iron, Minn.–Two Harbors, Minn.) will attest: That's a steaming pile of bullshit.
Sure, the power — a captive fleet of rebuilt 3300-series AC44C6Ms equipped with Orinoco straight air — has a homogenized feel and stale look. But it's clean power, a reflection of the pride that propagates from Proctor. And on cool, humid mornings such as June 12, 2025, freshly baked taconite pellets radiate a mesmerizing steam that gets the eyes to dance. The auditory nerves get their own stimulation, too, when the still of the North Country is interrupted by the siren song of wheels and rapid tickety-tack of short cars rolling over switches and rail joints.
So, sure, the swan song for Dash 8s and SD40s is over. But I'm still going to buy the ticket and enjoy the show for years to come.