Training on Minnesota's Iron Range

Last year's family fall tour included part of Minnesota's Iron Range. There are 4 distinct ranges in the state-Cuyuna, Mesabi, Vermillion, and Gunflint. They extend from Crosby, just east of Brainerd, to the tip of the Arrowhead of NE Minnesota. The Gunflint actually continues into Canada. I have been to all four. There a handful of museums dotted throughout the region. Only the Mesabi range has any active mines.

In Mountain Iron, there is a small park near a former pit mine. According to the interwebs, iron ore was first discovered near the park. In the park there is a display of some old mining equipment. Under a canopy sits an old switch engine that is marked for the Oliver Iron Mining Company. You can actually climb up on it and go into the cab. Some local youths were occupying the cab so we just climbed around the boiler. 

It is a Baldwin 0-8-0 built in 1910 that originally served the Duluth, Missabe, and Northern Railroad. Oliver Iron Mining Company acquired the engine in 1927 and gave it the number 806. It was working the mines until the 1950s. It is in pretty good condition physically. This engine is one of the oldest 0-8-0 still surviving. Memnon is the oldest, having been built in 1848. It sits inside the B&O museum in Baltimore, MD.