• Wednesday-What'sUP April 12 - 09:41 am

When I spotted these photos from Aladino Mandoli, I had no clue where or what the train was doing, so I contacted Dino for more information and this is what he said:

"I believe this train was heading to the docks at Escanaba, as the tracks to the Marquette dock run in a different direction. This train was coming from the Tilden and Empire mines, carrying iron ore. These shots were taken at the Goose Lake overpass which is about five miles south of US41 on M35 in Negaunee. I was coming up M35 and saw the lights of the train so I stopped and started shooting."

I have loved all types of trains all my life because my daddy worked for the Pullman Co. in Nashville, so trains are 'in my blood'! Thanks Aladino and Mary!

"Lotsa curves you bet, even more when you get to the Junction, Pettycoat Junction".

Canadian National, formerly the Illinois Central Railway.

Ahh, iron ore pellets, best slingshot ammo in the world. The railroad tracks behind gramma's house north of Iron Mountain were our endless supply of this valuable commodity. There were utility poles that ran along the railroad right of way, and we used to throw handfulls of the pellets at the dozens of wires strung up there. You'd always connect with a few wires and they'd make a really cool zinging noise.

These photos have "America" written all over them. Nice job!

Just ADORE that second shot. So dreamy looking. My new background for the day!

What fantastic pics...I, too, love trains. Took my
first train ride at 4 from Detroit, stopping at the
Chicago Loop, to Calumet. I remember it like
yesterday. Somehow "romantic" comes into mind when
I see trains. Thanks for these, Aladino!

I wonder if some of the ore cars are on loan from my area... DM&IR is Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range. Love to see the ore cars loaded up and heading for the Lake - often with the pellets still hot and steaming in the cold air.

way cool!!!

The train from Detroit to Calumet was the DSS&A RR- which stood for Duluth South Shore & Atlantic RR which stood for Dam Slow Srevice & Abuse!

This train is headed for the Goose Lake crossing where it will cross the lake. In the 4th photo, Goose Lake is just around the next corner. Catching a train crossing the lake should be on every train photographer's bucket list. It's about being in the right place at the right time as evidenced by today's photos.

Looks like someone took a shot at that DMIR car in the last picture. Maybe when it was escaping from MN for da UP.

My mother took me on the train from Detroit to Calumet when I was a toddler in 1946 or 47. She said the trip was a total nightmare.

We used to stack pennies on the rails and watch them get crushed into one mold while in Marquette and hiking the tracks.

"Choo Choo peanut butter"

One more... "Ridin that train high on &^%%#, Casey Jones, You'd better watch your speed!"

Richard J., maybe it was the ghosts of the Yankee spies, attempting to steal it, like they 'stole' the "General" down in Georgia in 1862!;)

There's always something magical about trains.

We used to do the same thing UC!

My Dad used to tell us the train was going so slow because of all the pennies squished on the wheels. That was back in Antrim County...... Chessie System in the 50's & 60's!

Shirely, you're talking about one of my peeps there! He was one of Andrews Raiders! And he was a patriot, not a spy!!! ;-0

It almost looks like a train set picture with the haze and foggy sky. I really like trains and their history as well.

Sorry, jbuck, didn't mean to offend. Guess it all depends on which side of the Mason/Dixon line one's from, and what history books one reads.

Love these pictures. Seriously, I love all of Dino's pictures!

Since this is about 'trains', just wanted to add about "The General", tomorrow will be the 150th anniversary of the episode by 'Andrews Raiders'.

The CN now owns and runs the DM&IR, so the last car is technically on home rails. The line running along Goose Lake was originally owned by the C&NW which was merged into the Union Pacific who eventually sold the Upper Peninsula ore lines to the Canadian National. The fact that the CN also owns what is left of the DSS&A is full of irony since the DSS&A used to be controlled by CN's long time rival Canadian Pacific. Canadian National is the Canadian version of Conrail, in the early 1920's the Canadian government stepped in to save a multitude of bankrupt railroads. They obviously were successful since the CN now runs as far south as New Orleans via the old Illinios Central. Excellent photos, Dino!

Not at all Shirley!

Just think how many brave soldiers would have been saved and how many families would have been complete if the raid had been successful and the ACW had ended years sooner.

BTW, Russell Bonds' book "Stealing the General" is excellent. Russell is from Atlanta and his account is very even handed.

That ore passes by my daughter's place in National Mine. All of the
kids in her home day care love to watch the train go by. So do I.

Wow! This series of photos is amazing ... just excellent! Thank you for sharing. :-)

Brings back good memories. Being a rabid train fan in my teens and twenties, my friends and I would frequent the Marquette area for train photography, as there were none left in Houghton County by the late eighties. Goose Lake was always a popular stop. Driving up to any RR crossing or overpass always prompted a quick look to see if there was a headlight, like in the top photo. Thanks!

The routes that were run by the DM&IR between Duluth
and the Iron Range and now operated by CN have had
their car fleet renewed in recent years. Many of the
old cars are now being used on the route from
Ishpeming/Negaunee to Escanaba.

Beautiful train and view of the forest. I have never rode on a train. Hope to one day. Is that snow in the last photo?

The D&N and Copper Range ran right behind our house in Dollar Bay. There was a depot there and we always went out back when we heard a train coming.The guys would talk to us. Sometimes when the went by they would throw little bags of candy to us. Other times when they stopped they would buy our little bouquets of violets.I loved those old steam engines. I miss hearing them go by. Some years ago when our grandson was about 4 we rode on the old 4501 steam engine here in Chatt. The trip was to Bridgeport, Ala. It was so nice,will never forget it.