Ore Car Roster

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The Missabe's equipment roster has largely concerned itself with ore cars of one sort or another. Both the D&IR and DM&N created rosters of similar equipment, although, at first, the specifications from each reflected the different personalities of each railroads' officials. As the two companies came together under common ownership, common standards emerged.

The ore car began as a relatively short 24-foot standard, owing to the weight of iron ore and the wood construction of cars in the 1880s. Both railroads rostered wooden ore cars, some built by local shops, some by Pullman Standard. By the 1910s, demand for volume of ore was such that the first steel cars were received. These cars were of 50-ton capacity. Variations existed, as each successive order of cars seemed to try out a new innovation, including rib sides, different doors, long end platforms, and panel sides.

In the 1930s, capacity was increased to a 70-ton car, and from then on out, the 70-ton car followed consistent design, even though orders alternated between ACF and Pullman Standard through 1957 when the last order of ore cars was placed. Beginning in the 1960s, side extensions were added to some ore cars to increase volume capacity on cars hauling less-dense taconite pellets.

Having almost reached the end of their lives, the ore car fleet is old, dwindling in numbers due to FRA mandated retirements and failure from years of hard service. The Missabe has acquired side-dump cars from Minntac, and is in the process of refurbishing them for flux stone service. It is also looking at the possibility of acquiring new ore cars, and expects a major purchase at the turn of the century.