moose
Veteran Expediter
Had a delivery into the Iron Range Mining facility D'other day.
have being up there many time, and have a few racing friends hoe lives (hunt & fish) and works there.
but now that i had a gate pass, they could show me around.
no secrets - i have a thing for large Diesels, and this ones are almost as big as they gets ! - tons of fun.
i learned that guided tours can be arranged for groups.
there are many many amassing things in that operations, like the way they transfers the explosives, the drills (8"x40' holes), the numbers of explosives that take place each week, the never ending conveyor belts, and the finished product : a mountain of Taconite worth billions just sitting there waiting for the train.
and... the trucks !
each is hauling 280 TON of rocks, from the pits up to the crusher . some places have a 10% clime.
in summer time, they dig closer to the dumpsite, because the tires can overheat real fast.
i also climbed into one of the extruders.(& modeled into the bucket & next to the drive belt)
what a wonderful day.
the good news, is that the mines are hiring, and adding 8 more trucks this year,(at 6 million$ a piece) and are desperate for drivers ! - anyone wish to buy a successful trucking op. so i can go works for the union ?... please !
(click to on the pictures enlarge)
have being up there many time, and have a few racing friends hoe lives (hunt & fish) and works there.
but now that i had a gate pass, they could show me around.
no secrets - i have a thing for large Diesels, and this ones are almost as big as they gets ! - tons of fun.
i learned that guided tours can be arranged for groups.
there are many many amassing things in that operations, like the way they transfers the explosives, the drills (8"x40' holes), the numbers of explosives that take place each week, the never ending conveyor belts, and the finished product : a mountain of Taconite worth billions just sitting there waiting for the train.
and... the trucks !
each is hauling 280 TON of rocks, from the pits up to the crusher . some places have a 10% clime.
in summer time, they dig closer to the dumpsite, because the tires can overheat real fast.
i also climbed into one of the extruders.(& modeled into the bucket & next to the drive belt)
what a wonderful day.
the good news, is that the mines are hiring, and adding 8 more trucks this year,(at 6 million$ a piece) and are desperate for drivers ! - anyone wish to buy a successful trucking op. so i can go works for the union ?... please !
(click to on the pictures enlarge)
