Welcome to the U.P, home to beautiful vistas, precious metal mining, and pasties (meat pie). The U.P. has had many railroads serving various industries but the main player was Mining. Copper Mining in the Keewanaw, and Iron Ore mining in the Marquette Range.
In 1893, with all the various mines and rail lines, mining companies were not pleased with the railroads because their efficiency was low and rates were high. A Simple task of getting the ore from the mines to the dock in a reasonable time and done efficiently seemed unreal.
A subsidiary of Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company (now Cleveland Cliffs Inc, out of Ohio) answered this call by organizing their own railroad. Their railroad took a much more efficient route and cut the time in half. This new railroad was named, The Lake Superior and Ispheming. It was just what all the mines needed. Ever since 1893 the LS&I has been moving iron ore from the various mines to the dock at Marquette Michigan. They continued to grow and eventually found their hand in smaller lines, running some Mixed freight, but as of 1980 the railroad sold its short lines and moves iron ore primarily. (Also a few other cars to support mining, such as tank cars and covered hoppers).
On the Mines of the Marquette Range, only 2 are around, Tilden and Empire Mine. (Owned by Cleveland Cliffs Inc, aswell), but in 2016 the Empire Mine was Idled indefinitely, effectively ending the CN Trains past Empire Junction.
My inspiration for building this route was that my family travels to the U.P. almost every summer. Although we do not usually stay in the areas represented in this route,
we travel through it quite often. So it is familiar to me and the operations have always seemed interesting. You dont really hear much in the lower peninsula about the
railroads of the U.P., But they are some of the most interesting the state has to offer.
Lake Superior and Ishpeming
- Tilden (7,3,11): These are the jobs that run between Tilden Mine and Eagle Mills. Their main responsibility is to load out the cars then bring them back for the climb to Marquette. (Hill Job)
- Hill Job: Ferries loaded ore trains in units of 120 between Eagle Mills and Marquette West Yard.
- Dock Job: Works the Ore dock, shuffling cars around the dock as needed. Also can prepare empties for the Hill Job. (This is the only job not called out of Eagle Mills)
- Weightier Job: Usually preforms the odds and ends or will run the hoppers delivered by CN for Algoma Steel to Tilden then run over to Partridge Yard.
{The LS&I is interesting because it runs shifts. 7am, 3pm, and 11pm, instead of calling crews as needed}
Note: The Hill job on occasion can also ferry empty jennies from west yard to Tilden Mine, then return with loads back to Marquette.
Candian National:
-U745: Unit Ore train for Sault Saint Marie Steel Plant. Will bring in empty 100 Ton hoppers to be loaded at Tilden. Loads are then dropped at Partridge yard by LS&I.
Mineral Range Railroad:
--Not Sure on symbol but they run a unit ore train to Humbolt Mine (off Map) load, then come back and leave loads for CN in Ishpeming Yard(Euclid).
The Route includes 20 miles of LS&I Trackage from the Ore Docks in Marquette to Tilden and Empire Mines. Also included is the LS&I to Ishpeming Mi.
Currently the route is being built in TRS19 SP5.
DEM file was made by Fishlipsatwork
Status:
Released *As Is*
Release Date: January 2023
TRS19 SP5 and Up only
*TANE Version not available
***Stay Tuned as I am working on Version 5 which will be a in house built DEM file representing the Marquette Iron Range in the late 80's into the 90's.****
**********You will need Jointed Rail's Tidewater Route for the roads, some textures, and misc scenery items.***************
In 1893, with all the various mines and rail lines, mining companies were not pleased with the railroads because their efficiency was low and rates were high. A Simple task of getting the ore from the mines to the dock in a reasonable time and done efficiently seemed unreal.
A subsidiary of Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company (now Cleveland Cliffs Inc, out of Ohio) answered this call by organizing their own railroad. Their railroad took a much more efficient route and cut the time in half. This new railroad was named, The Lake Superior and Ispheming. It was just what all the mines needed. Ever since 1893 the LS&I has been moving iron ore from the various mines to the dock at Marquette Michigan. They continued to grow and eventually found their hand in smaller lines, running some Mixed freight, but as of 1980 the railroad sold its short lines and moves iron ore primarily. (Also a few other cars to support mining, such as tank cars and covered hoppers).
On the Mines of the Marquette Range, only 2 are around, Tilden and Empire Mine. (Owned by Cleveland Cliffs Inc, aswell), but in 2016 the Empire Mine was Idled indefinitely, effectively ending the CN Trains past Empire Junction.
My inspiration for building this route was that my family travels to the U.P. almost every summer. Although we do not usually stay in the areas represented in this route,
we travel through it quite often. So it is familiar to me and the operations have always seemed interesting. You dont really hear much in the lower peninsula about the
railroads of the U.P., But they are some of the most interesting the state has to offer.
Lake Superior and Ishpeming
- Tilden (7,3,11): These are the jobs that run between Tilden Mine and Eagle Mills. Their main responsibility is to load out the cars then bring them back for the climb to Marquette. (Hill Job)
- Hill Job: Ferries loaded ore trains in units of 120 between Eagle Mills and Marquette West Yard.
- Dock Job: Works the Ore dock, shuffling cars around the dock as needed. Also can prepare empties for the Hill Job. (This is the only job not called out of Eagle Mills)
- Weightier Job: Usually preforms the odds and ends or will run the hoppers delivered by CN for Algoma Steel to Tilden then run over to Partridge Yard.
{The LS&I is interesting because it runs shifts. 7am, 3pm, and 11pm, instead of calling crews as needed}
Note: The Hill job on occasion can also ferry empty jennies from west yard to Tilden Mine, then return with loads back to Marquette.
Candian National:
-U745: Unit Ore train for Sault Saint Marie Steel Plant. Will bring in empty 100 Ton hoppers to be loaded at Tilden. Loads are then dropped at Partridge yard by LS&I.
Mineral Range Railroad:
--Not Sure on symbol but they run a unit ore train to Humbolt Mine (off Map) load, then come back and leave loads for CN in Ishpeming Yard(Euclid).
The Route includes 20 miles of LS&I Trackage from the Ore Docks in Marquette to Tilden and Empire Mines. Also included is the LS&I to Ishpeming Mi.
Currently the route is being built in TRS19 SP5.
DEM file was made by Fishlipsatwork
Status:
Released *As Is*
Release Date: January 2023
TRS19 SP5 and Up only
*TANE Version not available
***Stay Tuned as I am working on Version 5 which will be a in house built DEM file representing the Marquette Iron Range in the late 80's into the 90's.****
**********You will need Jointed Rail's Tidewater Route for the roads, some textures, and misc scenery items.***************
Click Here to download Version 3
Recommended Rolling Stock
Here are some videos that show the LS&I's daily operations in 2020. Includes some footage of CN Movements.
Note: Videos linked for informational purposes only, I take no credit for them.
Note: Videos linked for informational purposes only, I take no credit for them.
Credit to Coaster3001 for Video
Credit to ThornappleRiverRailSeries for Video
Screenshots (Some are wip so bear with me)
***********************************TRS19 Version Below********************************************************
Marquette (West Yard and Docks)
County Road 550 / MP QC 55
Three Lakes
Forestville
MP QC 57-60 Approach to Dead River
Dead River Trestle
U.S. 41 underpass/WC Flyover
Pine Hill Scale/Bagdad (Rock Cut)
Morgan Creek Trestle
Eagle Mills
M-35 (Eagle Mills)
Queens
Eagle Mills Junction
Palmer Line/Empire Junction/ Partridge Junction
Partridge Yard/Curve
Empire Mine + Palmer Mi
Tilden Mine
Ishpeming Junction (LSI/CN to Negaunee)
Negaunee
Ishpeming + Euclid Yard
********************************TANE Version (Provided as is, abandoned) Look Below*********************************
Holyoke Falls
Dead River Trestle
Pine Hill + The area of Morgan (Ghost town)
Morgan Creek Trestle
Eagle Mills
Queens
Eagle Mills West (M-35)