In the northern woods of Minnesota lies the Mesabi Iron Range, an area rich in taconite iron ore. When this production was filmed in 2001, the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway was busy hauling this ore from processing plants to the rail docks on Lake Superior. We'll explore the operations of the DM&IR beginning at the dock in Two Harbors, along its two divisions and several branch lines, to the huge docks in Duluth, and see its beautiful maroon and gold locomotives at work.

Traveling along the Iron Range Division from Two Harbors to Iron Junction, we spot DM&IR's SD40-3s, former SD45T-2s remanufactured for the railroad. At Highland, a southbound train enters the scale track to weigh each car. The DM&IR runs three general freight trains and we watch one, the Miscellaneous Road Freight, head onto the branch line at Wales to pick up freight cars from the Northshore Mining Company. A rail train, led by an SD38AC, departs the yard in Biwabik. At Iron Junction a northbound train is headed by a rebuilt SD18 and a rebuilt SD9, now both classified as SD-Ms. On the Missabe Division, run-through power includes CSX SD80MACs and BNSF Dash 9s. An SD38DC leads a southbound load with steam rising in the cold winter air from freshly processed taconite pellets. We're treated to the nonstop operations at Dock 6 in Duluth, the largest ore dock on the Great Lakes.

The DM&IR, seen here through all four seasons, delivers a unique combination of hardworking railroading, intriguing motive power, modern industrial facilities, and scenic wilderness. It's a great viewing experience! DVD Special Features: Two stereo soundtracks, one with the natural train sounds, the other with narration added. The viewer can switch the narration on or off at any time. Chapter Menu provides instant access to program segments. Full-screen (4x3) Format. No region code, can be played in any NTSC DVD player worldwide. Packaged in Sturdy Vinyl Clamshell Case.

Pentrex, 80 minutes, in Color with Stereo Sound and Narration. pxdmir
Price: 22.95 USD

A look back on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range as it was before 1980 through video, 8 mm film, photos, slides and postcards.

This narrated video first features the Missabe in the mining areas, mainline scenes of steam and diesel trains and sights inside Proctor Yard. On the hill down to Duluth, there is film, video and photos of trains on the 2.2% grade, along with a cab ride down to the docks. Next are the ore docks and then onto the line along Lake Superior to Two Harbors. A visit to Two Harbors is followed by a look at Missabe depots and passenger trains. Numerous railfan trains with steam and diesel are relived through film and photos. The video finishes with Missabe diesel power on the EJ&E, Union RR and Birmingham Southern; preserved steam locomotives and memorabilia items.

The film, video, photos, slides and postcards are mostly from private collections that have not been seen before. There is over a half an hour of 8 mm film, about 11 minutes of video shot in 1980 and 543 images.

PrairieWorks, DVD video, 74 minutes, color. PW111
Price: 25.95 USD