![Articulated steam locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_1DMIR211.jpg)
“Cross-country” ore train at Sparta, Minn.
East of Fayal, Minn., former Duluth, Missabe & Northern 2-8-8-2 No. 211 snakes an ore train east at Sparta, Minn., in 1957. On the Missabe this was considered a “cross-country” train, as it was not headed south to Proctor/Duluth or Two Harbors.
Photograph by Franklin A. King
![Articulated steam locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_1DMIR211-100x80.jpg)
![Road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_2DMIR149.jpg)
SD9s with empties north
Two SD9s lead empty ore cars north at Saginaw, about 15 miles north of Proctor, in July 1976. Lead unit 149 wears the DM&IR’s original broad-stripe livery, modified with a vertical stripe on the nose.
Photograph by Steve Glischinski
![Road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_2DMIR149-100x80.jpg)
![Articulated steam locomotive with freight train on bridge](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_3DMIR221.jpg)
Big engine, little cars
DM&IR 2-8-8-4 No. 221 rolls ore loads south toward Proctor in September 1957.
Photograph by John Pickett
![Articulated steam locomotive with freight train on bridge](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_3DMIR221-100x80.jpg)
![Steam locomotive pushing on rear of freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_4DMIR508.jpg)
0-10-2 helper
Ex-Union Railroad 0-10-2 No. 602 assists a train of empty ore cars up the hill from Duluth to Proctor in the early 1950s.Cecil Cook
![Steam locomotive pushing on rear of freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_4DMIR508-100x80.jpg)
![Steam locomotive with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_5DMIR713.jpg)
The left-handed Missabe
DM&IR 2-10-4 No. 713, acquired from sister U.S. Steel road Bessemer & Lake Erie, trudges up Proctor Hill with empty ore cars in 1954.Photograph by Philip R. Hastings
![Steam locomotive with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_5DMIR713-100x80.jpg)
![Overhead view of steam locomotive and caboose in freight yard](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_6DMIR1300.jpg)
Action at Rainy Junction
A Missabe 1300-series ex-Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Mikado has hold of a caboose at Rainy Junction, Minn., in 1950. In the background, an Oliver Iron Mining Alco RS2 approaches with loads.Photograph by Henry J. McCord
![Overhead view of steam locomotive and caboose in freight yard](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_6DMIR1300-100x80.jpg)
![Steam locomotive with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_7DMIR1208.jpg)
“Commercial” freight
Surrounded by the trappings of steam railroading, 2-8-0 1208 heads a general freight train at Virginia, Minn., in July 1950. On the Missabe, such non-ore trains were known as “commercial” traffic.
Photograph by Henry J. McCord
![Steam locomotive with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_7DMIR1208-100x80.jpg)
![Three road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_8DMIR413.jpg)
Hot taconite
Taconite pellets still warm from processing at Eveleth “steam” on an extra behind an SD40-3/SD38AC/SDM trio in February 2000. The train is southbound near Saginaw, between Hull Junction and Coleraine Junction.
Photograph by Steve Glischinski
![Three road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_8DMIR413-100x80.jpg)
![Two road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_9DMIR118.jpg)
Climbing Proctor Hill
SD9s 116 and 103 grind up Proctor Hill with empties bound for the mines and another load of iron ore in July 1957.
Photograph by Jim Scribbins![Two road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_9DMIR118-100x80.jpg)
![Streamlined diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_10DMIR_BLE723.jpg)
Visiting F units
DM&IR dieselized after the heyday of carbody diesels, but F units were not unknown on the road. Leased B&LE F7 No. 723 and an F7B lead a Proctor-bound ore extra south at Saginaw.
Photograph by Franklin A. King
![Streamlined diesel locomotives with freight train](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CTR_10DMIR_BLE723-100x80.jpg)
All through April 2021, Classic Trains editors are celebrating, the history, heritage, and grit of the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railroad. Please enjoy this freight train photo gallery of images selected from the files of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library.
Only from Classic Trains!