NEGAUNEE, MICHIGAN - 14 Oct 2018

It's 2018 and the LS&I GE U30C and C30-7 era appears to be in its final act, with the majority of the fleet retired and scrapped, replaced with much newer leased GE AC44CWs.

However a pair of U30Cs - the 3000 and 3009 - along with the pair of C30-7s - the 3073 and 3074 - continue to haul iron ore trains for Michigan's Iron Ore Road.

By mid October, the tough "yooper" winter was knocking on the door, with flurries mixed in with a light drizzle coating the rail - combining with recently fallen leaves to create a slick leaf goo known the industry-over for bringing trains to their knees.

With the 40-year old thunder pumpers trying their best, 6000 tons of iron ore train would best them on the hill, returning from the Tilden Mine. A rescue mission by the 3 Yard-Hill would ensue, quickly rectifying the problem but not before the venerable units were stopped in their tracks.

3 Tilden Consist:
- LS&I 3073 [C30-7]
- LS&I 3074 [C30-7]
- 121 Empties [to Tilden Mine]
- 61 Loads [from Tilden Mine]
3 Yard-Hill Helper Consist:
- CEFX 1005 [AC44CW]
- CEFX 1003 [AC44CW]
Location/Time:
- LS&I Ore Sub, Negaunee, MI, Riihinen Rd xing/Eagle Mills Jct, on 14Oct2018 at 16:26 EDT
- Palmer, at the Empire Mine, at 16:44
- Empire Jct, at 18:52
- Tracy Mine, Buffalo Rd xing, at 19:18

Curious about how the railroads in this video are laid out on the map? Check out my Google Map Overlay of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Railroads, via this link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GeS...

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Videography Equipment:
- Primary: Sony FDR-AX53 4K Camcorder
- Secondary: Sony HDR-PJ790V HD Camcorder
- Aerial Platform: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Drone
- Radio Scanner: Uniden Bearcat BC125AT
- Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 16

Created by Alex Christmas. Copyright 2018, as the Thornapple River Rail Series, All Rights Reserved