The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway is first followed from EVTAC’s raw taconite loader in Eveleth to the processing plant 10 miles to the south. After a tour of United States Steel’s Minntac processing plant, Missabe pellet trains are shown on the line to Duluth with limestone in side-dump cars headed north (some footage from the mid-1980s). After a tour of Proctor Yard, the brake shoe smoke-enshrouded loaded trains are shown headed for the dock. The Missabe is then followed on the scenic line from the Iron Range to Two Harbors, with a side trip on the Wales branch, and out onto Dock #1.

The Burlington Northern/BNSF is next. After a mine & plant tour of Hibbing Taconite and views of two other plants, the railroad is followed on its mainline to the docks in Superior, Wisconsin and beyond with all-rail trains.

Cliffs Northshore Mining’s railroad operations are viewed from various remote locations to the processing plant at Silver Bay. Concludes with a tour of the taconite processing plant. Also includes photos of predecessor companies Reserve Mining and Cyprus Northshore.