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Indiana site selected for iron ore pellet plant
Although the picture shows a “BNSF ore train,” there is no mention of BNSF benefitting from this new plant.
Edmond,
BNSF serves Magnetation’s Coleraine, Minnesota loadout.
Great to hear! Looks like we will have some iron ore train on the former Monon.
The article doesn’t say whether the plant will recieve ore by lake boat most of the way (with rail movements at both ends) or by all rail routings. BNSF to CSX via Chicago or BNSF to TP&W at Galesburg or Peoria are possible all rail routes. However, UP, CN, and CP would probably be interested as well.
The stuff is already here, stockpiled in existing facilities. Most mines have pelletized on site since the early 1960s as the high quality ores ran out, making it economical to ship. Pellets are much easier and faster to load on the lake boats, too. Now they’ll be able to use the low grade ores/tailings that have been set aside locally for years. By the way, pelletizing requires limestone, which we have in abundance in the region. One can assume it will be shipped to the plant by rail.
Glad to see something useful will come from the wasteland of the abandoned ethanol plant. Hope the transport is rail based and not more trucks on IN 43 and US 24. PR
New business for the Monon! The crews could really use some more work after losing through freights to Evansville and Indy. The ethanol thing was up and down, there is a 3 track balloon track built for the unfinished e-plant on site that will be handy. And no, there is no navigable water access to mid-cornfield Indiana.