TRRS 517: Michigan's Iron Ore Trail: The Lake Superior and Ishpeming Ore Dock

[@conrad4667]

I’ve been watching these ships go through the Duluth canal on another channel, now I get to see their final destination and loading process. Well done.

[@wientz]

Most you tube videos today have forgotten the age old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words". They have changed it to " a picture needs a thousand words to explain it". Thank you for going back to basics of great video and a few well placed explanations. Great job!

[@electric7487]

A picture is worth a thousand words, a movie is worth a trillion.

[@Quadflash]

This excellent video is a very welcome change from over-produced, overly dramatic mainstream media. Thanks for your fascinating history and professional video work

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Thanks, David! While it is easy to beat the Mainstream Media, I still totally understand what you mean. Even I rarely watch TV anymore, when there are so many great creators on KZbin who aren't fake, misleading or cheap. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joea1433]

To David Sonnen - Do you mean the mainstream video production that insists that any scene be shown for only a few milliseconds or made to look arty with special effects all with some guy shouting what is supposed to be music?

[@joeskis]

VO could use improvement. A bit rushed for my tastes.

[@KutWrite]

Yeah... no music! Yay! I assume you recorded ambient sound to replace drone noise? However you did it, it fit well.

[@tomjones4318]

Hype is the word. I used to see good stuff on PBS but they got so political I had to write them off. Most all MSM is owned by the same scum now and what the public wants is the last of their concerns. Amazing how we now pay dearly to watch garbage on TV. Even pay to watch commercials.

[@stantaylor3350]

Thanks for the great video. I worked 32 yrs. & 46 weeks at the tilden mine. Used to take the family to the park that over looks the harbor there & watch this operation. I never knew that not all of the chutes line up with all of the hatches at once, thus the movement of the ship. Always wondered why they moved the ship, I thought it was for balancing the ship. Learn something new each day. I hope you answer all of the questions people have. From my understanding the pellets from this dock go to Algoma Steel in Sault Steam Marie, Ont. Canada which is on the eastern end of Lake Superior. The Tilden mine is about 25 mile west of this dock, located 5 miles S.E. of the city of Ishpeming, Michigan. The sister mine to the Tilden was called the Empire mine. It closed a couple of years ago. I think there is a Grass Roots effort to get it running again. When the Empire was operating, they railed their pellets from Palmer, Michigan to Escanaba Michigan where there is a pocket dock system just like the one in this video. Those boats go to the lower great lakes. The Edmund Fitzgerald may have been loaded here, not 100% sure of that, but on it fateful last voyage it was loaded in Superior, Wisconsin. The history of iron ore mining in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has been going on for more than 150 years. There is a pocket dock like this in Ashland, Wisconsin. The ore from Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls & the western U.P went there to be loaded. The rail road that led out to the dock has long been removed. People who wouldn't know probably wonder what is that huge cement structure standing alone out in the bay. The ore that was shipped from the under ground mine in western U.P was raw ore. It wasn't concentrated & balled. They used clam shovel cranes & the steel Mills to unload them. Those mines all closed down in the late 50's. Almost forgot the Hanna mine just north of Iron Mountain. It was an open pit mine, with a concentrator plant & pelletizing plant. It closed in 1978 I believe. They must have railed there pellets to Escanaba. The last under ground iron ore mine in the U.P. closed in 1979. That was the Mather B mine in Negaunee, Michigan about 13 miles west of Marquette. The ore from this mine was ground & pelletized at the ore improvement plant & the Pioneer pellet plant both located in Eagle Mills. Halfway between Marquette and Negaunee.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Hi Stan - thanks for sharing your role in the whole operation in year's past. I'll add that the ore from Tilden is currently split mostly between AK Steel in Dearborn and Algoma at Sault Ste Marie, with some sporadic loading for other locales. Be sure to check out some of my other LS&I videos - including some of my drone flyovers of the Empire Mine. This coming fall I'll be producing a feature-length documentary on the LS&I and the mines - so stay tuned for that!

[@stantaylor3350]

I forgot to say that after retirement from the mine, I went to CDL school in Escanaba & got my CDL then I started driving semi's. I currently live in ND hauling coal. It's a seasonal job, August through May with the summers off with unemployment. Perfect for a retiree. Wife & I ride our Goldwing motorcycle all over the country for 6--7 weeks each summer. We pull a little pop up camper behind the bike. Great life!

[@obviousness8113]

@@stantaylor3350 I'm happy for you, friend! Message me when you can and I'll send you and the missus to dinner and drinks on me!

[@bigfootontherocks]

@@ThornappleRiverRailSeries Now the Cliffs iron ore pellets are going to the recently purchased AK steel making facilities at River Rogue. This iron ore goes into a lot of Ford trucks built there.

[@georgeelder8415]

When did they close the open pit iron mine in Republic?

[@supercuda1950]

Great video. To say those ships are huge is an understatement. It's nice to see an American operation supplying American companies, even though there are similar operations which supply exports. The crews make this look easy but it is anything but easy. This is American labor at work!

[@sort187]

I saw this operation from the ground in the summer of 2019. There's nothing quite like seeing it in person. Absolutely massive!

[@paulfinn1032]

What an exceptional documentary....the information, filming and delivery are just perfect. Congratulations, and thank you.

[@mikegass2272]

67 years old & I remember crawling out on the porch roof as child of about 6 years old & watching the ore " boats" heading for Ashland. The house was in Washburn & up on the hillside. Great memories.

[@chrispotter3324]

Nice job! It’s cool, being able to appreciate what little’s left of our industrial past. It’s rare to see remains the same in function today, as it did 100+ years ago.

[@philipschneider6396]

Thanks for the reminder of how far we've moved from our industrial past. I find myself driving all over our country looking for the past. LOL Nowdays you can't even take RTE 66 coast to coast. LOL Nowdays our congress doesn't want us to do that anyway, it's not eco friendly.

[@donmathias1705]

I love the efficiency of this operation. Gravity is a great servant. You have done an amazing job with the video and the explanations. Traveled thru this area on my road trip around the great lakes. I'm from NZ so great to see this video.

[@debrasimms6821]

a sincere Thank You for the Breakdown of a process I have just had the Pleasure of watching throughout my life, Since 1957 . Born & raised in Marquette,my Grandfather Roy Rydholm, worked at L.S.&I. . My Uncle,Owen Steere, was a Lifetime mariner( exact title?) on the Great Lakes Ships.His Love of the Sea is expressed in his Extraordinary paintings of Ships on Water and the powerful influence of Nature's Forces , which we all , hopefully,agree should be admired and feared, respectfully. isn't Marquette a special place? I love it😋🌲

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

For Stunning High Quality video of Train operations, NO One is better than "Thornapple River Rail Series" !! Always amazed at the videos.

[@whiteknightcat]

Excellent video - crisp and bright photography coupled with clear and concise narration with just the right amount of colorful embellishment. Beautiful work.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

I've actually never done any color work on any of my clips. Everything is stock off the camera. I don't fancy myself a filmmaker, I just tell railroad stories.

[@terryambrose6260]

Another wonderfully shot video. Simple, but informative. I had to watch every second. From a distance it looks so easy. Then do the math: 26,000 tons. Holy moly. I had Gordon Lightfoot running through my head the whole time.

[@rherman9085]

Your attention to detail, video quality and the shots taken are just breathtaking. Oh how fortunate we are that you share your talents. I was just held spell bound throughout. Wow! Just Wow!!!

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

My pleasure, RH!

[@davenhla]

I love how this stuff built decades ago was designed so well it has held up for so long. You can find black and white pictures of people from the 1930's on these docks. Truly impressive engineering and build quality.

[@geosutube]

Another terrific job of detailing the loading of an ore ship. I have always wanted to see this type of coverage, and I must say your filming skills are considerable and are welcomed here.

[@jamesrivis620]

It amazes me that the dock/bridge can hold the weight of 3/4 trainloads of ore plus the cars and power units.

[@FisheeC3]

The dock/bridge has to support its own mass as well.

[@mlarson3107]

Look at videos of ashland ore dock being demolished!

[@garyjohnson1392]

Really nicely done...Video quality is so good that , at the beginning I briefly thought this was a simulation...Wow...Pro job.!!

[@donvaughn146]

Spent summers in Ashland, Wisconsin in the 1960s. There were four active docks at that time, lots of lakers to watch! Now they are all gone. Fantastic video!

[@VictorVolkman]

Simply amazing, what a piece of engineering more than 100 years old!!!

[@vetterfellow]

Something you don't see every day. Very well Narrated, Thank you.

[@uboyce]

Thank you for very informative video, well done! Railroads and Boats move so much freight on old infrastructure so well!

[@DanielPRails]

It’s pretty amazing to see the aging infrastructure that these mammoth machines still use in certain areas, both railroads and maritime

[@HeartlandTuber]

Simply brilliant filming with excellent and clear narration. Outstanding.

[@billyjoejimbob56]

Seeing this particular ship is special. As you explain in the narrative, it began life as an ocean going tanker. It was lengthened and converted to a bulk carrier decades later. I believe it is the oldest ore carrier on the Great Lakes at 80+ years, loading at a 100+ year old dock!

[@brettfavreify]

As a boatnerd, really appreciate how the shipping companies keep these old girls painted up.

[@YardLimit]

There have been several videos of this loading dock and this is by far the best! The narration is great and educational. Your drone piloting is first class. Everything about this video works!

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Thanks! I know MCL and DIB both had previous videos of a similar flavor, so it's a great compliment!

[@YardLimit]

Those were the two I was thinking of. Yours is far superior and theirs were really good. Bravo.

[@TheSonicfrog]

My cousin used to be an engineer on this railroad, and one fine spring day back in the 90's he took me for a cab ride. He pointed out numerous times the need to be very careful walking anywhere near the rails or out on the pier, as taconite pellets are EXTREMELY rollery and slippery. At that time the entire railroad was classified as "yard limits" which simplified train handling. Back in the 30's my dad grew up off Baraga and told me stories about how they used to play in the (now gone) rail yard and engine service facility behind their house.

[@mrbowles8705]

Regarding Israel do not curse israel.Numbers 24:9 The nation is like a mighty lion; When it is sleeping, no one dares wake it. Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, And whoever curses Israel will be cursed. Romans 10:9- If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. EPHESIANS 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” 1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The rapture is imminent! John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

[@amandahudson431]

Thank you for no hideous music playing!

[@mikestevens8012]

Ok but , Jethro's Tull locomotive breath , and doors chrystle ship..Phil glass for fill

[@MichiganRailProductions]

Awesome documentary of this process! Few videos like this exsist!

[@sigurdjohnson6617]

Great video. I've seen the Tregrutha sail into the Duluth harbor a couple of times. Cool to see it getting loaded and with the views from the drone.

[@railroad9000]

Of all the rail/water transfers this has always fascinated me. Great video.

[@ih82r8]

My thoughts and comments are that this is one freaking fantastic video!!! OMG a ship, a railroad, AND a 100+ year old dock?! :D

[@philipschneider6396]

I've been witness to the ore boat phenomenon since the 1950s.Usually nothing tells the story of these huge behemoths other than standing side by side and looking up at the various metal structures and pieces and then testing to gauge their weight and size. Are they really made of STEEL? Can they really float . . . and MOVE? As a young kid I just HAD TO touch the red wall that was the side of the boat. In fact with my Dad's permission, I leaned over with both hands and pushed all I had to see if I could move it. As I was pushing with all my might, I looked down between the side of the boat and the iron seawall to where the lake water was supposedly keeping the boat afloat. I never saw any movement of the boat. Watching this video proves that those huge ore boats ARE floating and functional and they DO move. It just takes the right guy with more strength OR a duet of 14,000 HP engines. The videography and camera work on this video is wonderful. Some of the angles are one of a kind and brought back that feeling I had as a young kid of how huge these boats are. The flying drone cameras are an amazing addition to the 20th century. An amazing new invention we can all marvel at when used for all those times we wish we could fly but can't. I agree with the other viewers that compliment the use of natural sounds for a sound track rather than music that doesn't fit. Thanks Alex.

[@joshuapotter7372]

Absolutely amazing process, engineering, and video production! I could watch and listen all day!

[@stnicholas54]

Magnificent stuff. Always a pleasure to watch heavy apparatus at work. Efficient, too. Great upload. Thank you kindly.

[@ScottTaipaleRail]

Well done, excellent video. I'll never understand the dislikes on a quality production.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

thanks, Scott!

[@CycolacFan]

Professionally made video and voiceover made this process fascinating.

[@johnnycats5157]

Drones have opened up a whole new world for railfans.

[@watcherinlaa8736]

I've seen the Tregurtha coming down the Detroit River many times. Very interesting to see how she takes on the cargo. Love the drone footage. Excellent video!

[@raybin6873]

The narration is also outstanding. Top notch video!

[@johnkamoche829]

Thanks for this video. I like the overhead view of the train cars emptying into the ship. That was very interesting.....

[@DJ-bh1ju]

Well done.... Very informative on the basics of how this works....

[@davidakariverman-astorytel644]

A 113 year old ore dock up-graded for 22nd century use is magnificent. Especially as the history voices how terribly loud loading talconite is.

[@dronelandscapes8775]

Great video, really enjoyed it no dramatics just presented with all the facts. Keep up the good work. new supporter here in Australia.

[@drubradley8821]

I enjoyed the great detail... I always wondered how these massive boats got filled... Clever stuff...

[@GG-ub4ej]

I love this video! I used to haul steel and saw this ship a few times unloading at AK steel when I was picking up coils. Very well made video.

[@kevinmiller4486]

Loved the video. I have never seen anything like this before. Quite an operation.

[@georgesmith6891]

A well executed documentary with awesome coverage of the process.👍🏻

[@kddaniels5965]

thanks very very much ! nice video. we would never have the chance to see this without you. A+++++

[@matthewverrelli4819]

You’re an absolute excellent presenter, great video

[@CentralPennRailProductions]

Phenomenal video, glad this popped up in my suggestions again when I was doing some research about iron ore. I haven't seen the 1.75 hour long LS&I video you just put up, but hopefully I'll find a weekend to sit down and watch all of it, because the production quality on your videos is top notch!

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

I bet you'll like it when you get the chance! Thanks for stopping by :)

[@soarinskies1105]

When the Tilden mine finally shuts down in 20-30 years, it will be the end of an era for Michigan and the end of this unique and historic piece. It will be a sad day when that happens but for now it’s still a wonderful site to see this breathtaking procedure still take place in northern Michigan

[@SportDogg2008]

Than the freighter companies would have to sell more freighters which means less jobs and there go some if not most of the economy and then we'll have to deal with buying millions of pellets from foreign companies! Where as its probably cheaper to have it this way and keep the jobs!

[@oriolesfan129]

30 years is still a lllllooooonnnnnggggg time. 30 more years of job security. One can still build a retirement off 30 years.

[@Toesmack1]

Excellent footage and well narrated. Thanks!

[@davidgolbert3548]

I've been to Duluth, Minnesota a number o f times to visit relatives, and always go down to the harbor to watch the boats and visit the Maritime Museum and where I have seen the Lee A. Tregurtha making her way through the ship channel; a very impressive sight.

[@mike_p941]

Gravity drop pocket dock. I like the sound of this.

[@jayruediger1987]

Great information on the loading of the ships and transporting the Ore by the LS&I.😁👍

[@gatortrainchaser2080]

Great Video! Amazing 100+ year system to load the ore onto the bulk carrier!

[@mikeizzano172]

Thanks for the reply about unloading the hold it never occurred to me about the hold conveyor old school you know,have to see it.ha ha. I’ll watch for more . Keep,m. Coming good stuff!

[@fedupdomer5654]

such a cool piece of infrastructure. many a model railroader has recreated this. note the tregurtha pulled in with no tugs or anything! like they were coming in for a dock and dine!

[@dougmorgan3722]

A superb example of heavy freight operation in a remote location unlike anywhere in UK.

[@hillearybrown7083]

The legend lives on.....

[@johnchalleen3278]

from the Chippewa on down...

[@simonking5381]

@@johnchalleen3278 of the big lake...

[@caseyjones2818]

Cool video. Marquette is a beautiful area

[@jayrhino7686]

Wow, dude, just WOW! Very nice work, commentary, editing, footage... Just amazing

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Thanks!

[@maineman11]

Excellent video! And I very much appreciate the narration. Thank you.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@hulado]

been in there a few times to load. good job of explaining it. thanks.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Excellent video and commentary

[@iusetano]

Fantastic over head shots. Great narration. Excellent video Alex.

[@TOTALCAMARO]

Fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing this information with us.

[@ericknutson8230]

So educational, so informative, and so well done . Just an awesome video thank you so much

[@victortenma5512]

My soul is purified by this video.

[@bping777]

Cool video. It is really neat to see an operation like this and learn a little about it.

[@strobx1]

I used to belong to the North American Rail Car Operators Association(Narcoa) and after the return from our run to Republic, we were allowed to run our cars up the ramp to stop on the ore dock. The grade was steep enough so that I was able to coast almost to the Yards.

[@4425nortonave]

Great drone work. It was stunning.

[@kenbowes2455]

Very professional camera handling..nice drone views too!

[@larrymasterspowerbuildingc4477]

amazing. I always wondered what a working day there would look like! Thank you! I've driven there many times but it was always not in service.

[@BeyondDuctTapeFixItRight]

You made an incredible well crafted video with interesting content. Thanks for making and sharing it!

[@ackack612]

That was a great vid with a lot of information and well presented. Nice!

[@gerryblyth9393]

Great narration by an obviously 'in the know' individual. Wish other so called informative videos had the same crew and producer. Thanks.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Thanks, Gerry! These days a little internet research goes a long way, and it's also easy to connect with great people who are in-the-know, especially with such a visible landmark in the area, which many local residents sure do take interest in!

[@mik3r0wave]

Well done! I loved the gorgeous drone footage.

[@barleyeducated8714]

Beautiful photography, awesome subject, A-1 job!

[@m3pilot86]

Great video! Thanks for making it. You have a wonderful way of making industry beautiful and interesting. Very nice color grading.

[@Cedar77]

Loving this system! Really well thought out and interesting to watch! :)

[@oldtown6240]

Interesting aspect of railroading that is not obvious or otherwise noticed. Thanks.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Being up in a very rural area where the closest major city (Duluth) is at least 5 hours away will do that!

[@bueromuell4075]

Excellent video- very informative like a of your railway videos- thank you

[@tobiasblech1929]

@1:54 ohh i love those CEFX 1000 series Locomotives. I've actually run that trailing unit, 1003. Who ever ordered them from GE didn't concern themselves with stripping out the comforts in the cab

[@jimsvideos7201]

Props to you for flying a drone where a crash would mean its loss.

[@reefranger38]

Wow! Great documentary and SO well made!

[@jabbathehut9587]

Thank you for posting this !! Exellent video !

[@PLNM238]

Very well documented and well explained! Amazement fulfils my eyes, thumbs up :)

[@gingerbread6614]

Wow you did a great job. That was so interesting. Thank you

[@generationll]

Have always been intriqued with these lake boats

[@jimjonrs3932]

That hull plating is hammer toned.

[@paulharris3354]

About the best video of this operation I have seen. Great job!

[@Dave-zj1zj]

Nice work GR. See you in La Platta when it's finished I hope. Keep up the great work.

[@dejohdenny2870]

Very professional video. Thanks

[@ralphcraig5816]

This reminds me of a series on TV when I was a kid that I always enjoyed and learned so much from on how the world works, it was called "Industry on Parade"...

[@RasmusDyhrFrederiksen]

Fantastic video. Fascinating.

[@brianwinkle8785]

Excellent. Very interesting, informative, and well done. 👍

[@TheNomadicRailfan]

Another interesting video. I don't always have time to watch the videos of those I'm subscribed to, but I find myself coming back to your channel more and more. I have to say these are some of the most interesting railroad related videos I've seen yet! Great work once again.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Thanks!