There has been a great deal of discussion here about the E units from the recent sale.

But, there has been nothing at all about the recent auction of B&LE F units.

Who got them?



Old Time Trains
oldtimetrains@rrmail.com

For that matter, there has been surprisingly little talk around here of the closing of the LTV Steel Mining (formerly Erie Mining) railroad in northern Minnesota. The LTV operation was well-known for using F9's for their taconite trains between Hoyt Lakes and Taconite Harbor, and also had a fleet of Alco's (RS-11's mostly) working the mine trains. It was probably the last place in the country where you could regularly find an A-B-B-A set of F9's in revenue freight service, and last year even had an A-B-B-B-B-A lashup going for a while. Now the mine and pellet plant are shut down for good, and the dock at Taconite Harbor is closed for the winter. The stockpile at the pellet plant should keep the dock and the taconite trains going for a month or two when shipping resumes in the spring, but I hear they'll be using leased power and the F's are done.

Unfortunately, the parent company, LTV Steel has filed for bankruptcy, which makes donation of any of the equipment highly unlikely. Not sure when the railroad equipment will officially go up for sale, but it would seem a shame to see all of the F's and Alcos go for scrap. Anyone interested in a matched set of F9's or a chop-nosed RS-11?

> There has been a great deal of discussion
> here about the E units from the recent sale.

> But, there has been nothing at all about the
> recent auction of B&LE F units.

> Who got them?


rjenkins@railfan.net

> Anyone interested in a matched set of F9's or a
> chop-nosed RS-11?

What is the history of the F9's prior to ore service?


dwshearer@aol.com

> What is the history of the F9's prior to ore
> service?

Built new for Erie mining.
Paul Kattner


paulkattner@hotmail.com