Centuries of the North Woods, Part 2: Lake Shore Division

Centuries of the North Woods is the epic documentary about the Chicago & North Western’s Alco C628 locomotives in iron ore service in Upper Michigan. In Part 2, we trace the C&NW’s Lake Shore Division from Escanaba to Empire Mine, with glimpses of fellow ore hauler Lake Superior & Ishpeming.

[@ShawnCalay-hi6gy]

Dad called this rock crushers.....he loved these engines....he used to go up there all the time to work....my dad suffered a series of strokes in 1988 and was told he would never work again ...spring of 89 he was back to work! Priceless memories of this era!

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

I like those Lattice Truss type of bridge design, those crossing the Escanaba River, just after the 6:00 mark. What is unique here is that the earlier structures, whatever the truss design they were, their spans were twice as long, noting the alternating types of piers in the river supporting the tracks. The stone piers were the primary supporting piers. The "two post" cement piers were added later so to shorten the span lengths, thus, carry more weight.

[@EastEndProductionsArchiv-lm3lq]

Great information! It is nice to learn about other aspects of the railroad than just trains and locomotives. RR

[@gailyncookMilwRR]

Great video well done!

[@evanwest1929]

Just took a Harley trip across the UP. Beautiful territory up there.

[@andydickson5400]

Really nice video, I was fortunate once to see these beasts in action.

[@EastEndProductionsArchiv-lm3lq]

They were true sensory overload locomotives. They looked cool. They sounded awesome! They were smoky, grimy and absolute workhorses. Seeing them at night on loaded trains provided numerous opportunities to see serious flames from the stacks. RR

[@ktm505sx1]

@@EastEndProductionsArchiv-lm3lq Hell yea. Very masculine machines they were in every way.

[@brianjuza-lh8mb]

Yes, very good video.

[@EastEndProductionsArchiv-lm3lq]

Thank you. We appreciate it very much. RR

[@ShawnCalay-hi6gy]

Man I detailed and painted those exact LS&I locomotives in HO nearly 30 years ago...