Escanaba

[Guest]

There is also speculation on several railfan sites that its not just natural overburden, but waste rock piles from years ago that are sitting on top of what they want to mine now. Either way, as the previous poster just mentioned, that's a massive undertaking and commitment if its going to take 3 years.

Perhaps I'm too cynical, but I often think these press releases are more to see what kind of tax concessions and government assistance can be generated from each locality/state than real plans. "Well, we really want to open back up the mine in your county, but its going to take us three years of non-productive work to make it happen. Or we could go to a neighboring state and get that one open in 2 years. What can you offer us to sway our decision towards Marquette?"

Your theory is likely spot on. It's a smart move for Cliffs. I wonder if it's part of a plan to get them into the Essar property sooner.

[Mr Link]

There is also speculation on several railfan sites that its not just natural overburden, but waste rock piles from years ago that are sitting on top of what they want to mine now. Either way, as the previous poster just mentioned, that's a massive undertaking and commitment if its going to take 3 years.

Perhaps I'm too cynical, but I often think these press releases are more to see what kind of tax concessions and government assistance can be generated from each locality/state than real plans. "Well, we really want to open back up the mine in your county, but its going to take us three years of non-productive work to make it happen. Or we could go to a neighboring state and get that one open in 2 years. What can you offer us to sway our decision towards Marquette?"

[Guest]

It has to do with the amount of overburden that has to be removed that wasn't done when the mine was opened. A previous poster on page two mentioned it.

Three years of overburden removal sounds costly. They must be very confident of sustained demand to undertake this effort.

[Guest]

It has to do with the amount of overburden that has to be removed that wasn't done when the mine was opened. A previous poster on page two mentioned it.

[Guest]

What did Cliffs mean when they said it would take three years to get down to the ore they needed at Empire ?

[Guest]

From reading the article is seems that the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs HATES Essar with a passion. I mean, calling Essar a "Virus"? Really? Perhaps the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs should be more measured in his words!

[Woodtick]

Yes as i stated earlier ore cars are ordered

[garbear]

Possibly mean re-opening Escanaba?
https://www.wdio.com/TWIM/cleveland-cli ... ?cat=10335

[Mr Link]

Track segments east of Ladysmith and Rhinelander were not pulled or legally abandoned, but they have been out of service for about 15 years. Which means they would require millions of dollars to put back into service. (a single grade crossing signal replacement project can be over $200,000) So the shortest all rail route between Duluth and Escanaba goes through Appleton and Green Bay. Not very direct, and half the way to Chicago.

2018 Wisconsin Rail Map (PDF):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... UXcPiKITp1

[garbear]

Here are links to WI and MI rail lines.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot ... 3910_7.pdf

https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/trav ... ailmap.pdf

[Guest]

Did DMIR or CN pull up the rail-line that connected Escanaba to Minnesota? At one time US Steel would rail iron ore pellets down to Escanaba for their ships to load in January.

[Guest]

May I ask-"rail ore from elsewhere"? Where's "elsewhere"? There's only the Tilden mine.

Minnesota?

From posts in the past there is no direct rail line between MN and Esky. If I remember correctly rail traffic would have to go thru Green Bay to get to Esky.

[Guest]

May I ask-"rail ore from elsewhere"? Where's "elsewhere"? There's only the Tilden mine.

Minnesota?

[Guest]

May I ask-"rail ore from elsewhere"? Where's "elsewhere"? There's only the Tilden mine.

[Esky Boat Watch]

Haven't read anything about Escanaba since all these posts. Have the ore cars been ordered for the dock? What became of the work that was being done at the dock? I'm guessing nothing is/will happen as far as the dock ever being used again.

Word on the street has it that Cliff's is buying the dock after the union contract CN had with it's workers runs out. I believe it was a 2 years continuance from the dock closing date.
This is so the they would only have to bargain with the Steelworkers, and not them and the Teamsters.
I believe it will be 2 years this spring.

What does all of that mean ? Will the dock re-open ?

Yes, Pending the re-opening of the Empire Mine or Cliff's decision to rail ore from elsewhere.

[Guest]

Haven't read anything about Escanaba since all these posts. Have the ore cars been ordered for the dock? What became of the work that was being done at the dock? I'm guessing nothing is/will happen as far as the dock ever being used again.

Word on the street has it that Cliff's is buying the dock after the union contract CN had with it's workers runs out. I believe it was a 2 years continuance from the dock closing date.
This is so the they would only have to bargain with the Steelworkers, and not them and the Teamsters.
I believe it will be 2 years this spring.

What does all of that mean ? Will the dock re-open ?

[Esky Boat Watch]

Haven't read anything about Escanaba since all these posts. Have the ore cars been ordered for the dock? What became of the work that was being done at the dock? I'm guessing nothing is/will happen as far as the dock ever being used again.

Word on the street has it that Cliff's is buying the dock after the union contract CN had with it's workers runs out. I believe it was a 2 years continuance from the dock closing date.
This is so the they would only have to bargain with the Steelworkers, and not them and the Teamsters.
I believe it will be 2 years this spring.

[Guest]

Haven't read anything about Escanaba since all these posts. Have the ore cars been ordered for the dock? What became of the work that was being done at the dock? I'm guessing nothing is/will happen as far as the dock ever being used again.

[Guest]

The Northshore Mining plant is having one production line being modified to produced Direct Reduced pellets for Cliffs HBI (Hot-Briquetted Iron) plant being built in Toledo. The plant in Toledo can't use regular iron ore pellets, so for now Northshore Mining will be its only source of Direct Reduced pellets, unless another production line is modified.

[JFB]

CN will not invest in the dock at Escanaba or for new rail cars unless they can be assured of a return on their investment. That rate is higher than it was in the past. And they have investment needs elsewhere on their railroad that are much more likely to generate higher returns. Another factor in the unlikely chance of reopening the Empire Mine is that in the later years of the mines operation, the mine was "understripped" where less overburden was removed. This had the effect of reducing the production cost of the mine, but it steepens the slopes of the mine walls. You can only do this for a little while before the walls become so steep that the practice can not continue. To resume mining in the pit they would have to remove greater amounts of overburden than they were doing in the final days of the mines operation.