Trains running at Taconite Harbor - temporarily

Submitted by star on Mon, 07/21/2008 - 11:37am

Schroeder residents were excited recently when railroad cars were seen traveling to and from the power plant and loading docks at Taconite Harbor. At the Schroeder town meeting on Tuesday, July 8, the hope that the loading docks would again be put in to service was expressed. However, Dave Skolasinski, district manager of environmental affairs for Cleveland Cliffs, owner of the loading docks, said the railroad is only being used temporarily.
Skolasinski said when Cleveland Cliffs purchased the facility, formerly owned by LTV Mining, in 2001, residual taconite pellets were held with the intent to sell when the market was more favorable. Pellets were left in bins at the Schroeder facility. “Not a lot, just some that wouldn’t fit in the last boat,” he said.
Cleveland Cliffs subsequently found a buyer. “The residual pellets are being taken by train to Hoyt Lakes and from there to a steelmaker in Chicago.”
Cleveland Cliffs public affairs officer Maureen Talarico added, “It’s sort of spring cleaning. In the current market, any pellet is a worthy pellet.”
Cook County residents can expect to see railroad cars on the bridges over Highway 61 in Schroeder for just a couple of weeks.