Working rail roads and their tracks.

[MossRoad]

Did the need for steel production subside and thus the oredock close because the USA was pretty much fully built, or did it close because most steel is now imported?
Or both?

As mentioned, that dock was used primarily in the shipment of hematite. It was mined underground, and very expensive to get out of the ground.

Taconite was at or near the surface, much easier and less expensive to get.

 

[Hay Dude]

So why not bring the taconite there?

 

[jjeff]

So why not bring the taconite there?

Probably over 100 miles by rail to get from current mine to an existing old ore dock. Most of these ore docks are old like over 100 yrs old. The one they still use In Marquette MI was built in the 1910s I believe. If it's the Presque Isle ore dock I'm thinking of and it's still in use.

 

[ArlyA]

So why not bring the taconite there?

There are no taconite mines in the Ashland area.

 

[jjeff]

Ship taconite out of 100+ yr old docks like this one in Two Harbors MN on the Mesabi range .KARE in the Air: Two Harbors ore docks

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a nice video of the BNSF ore dock in Superior WI. They talk about the process some in it.

 

[MossRoad]

Found this last night. Interesting reading.

Great Ore Docks of the Great Lakes – Updated

Iron ore docks are one of the most iconic symbols of the northern Great Lakes. From the last quarter of the 19th-century to the mid-20th century these enormous timber or steel/concrete structures d…

panethos.wordpress.com

 

[dodge man]

Lately this thread has me playing Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in my head.

 

[jjeff]

When not reading about and occasionally telling about my previous jobs, equipment, tractor related/ rural experiences I truly enjoy reading about historical industrial things on this forum thank you to all .

 

[dodge man]

Through work I’ve worked on a couple of rail projects, I think they were always sidings so switches are involved. I always heard the term FROGS thrown around. It’s where the rails come together. I Googled it and it resembles the underside of a horses hoof. It sounds like the term goes back many years.