In the eighties, I lived next to the BN (ex NP) main in Moorhead, MN. On several occasions, a Reserve Mining (SD 28s) train would arrive from the East about 4 a.m., stop and back up. I assume they were executing a wye manuver. What were they doing so far from home?
Through the 90’s and I guess still today, we see ex-Reserve Mining SD-9’s on the Escanaba and Lake Superior RR over here in NE Wis. For several years they ran w/ the Reserve reporting marks. There was also a SW type switcher from Reserve on the E&LS for a while, may still be somewhere on the network. Nice looking power and nice to see those 1st generation diesels still working.
IIRC there was (at least) a pair of SD9s still running around in brown/white. I last saw 1221 & 1224 around August of 2008 but I don’t get up “that way” much.
Here’s a link to a video I shot of them last year. It gets loud at times, be warned!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3OAHTrtlX0&feature=channel_page
What you were seeing is former Reserve Mining SD38-2s on lease to the BN by Helm Leasing. Reserve Mining closed with the final bankruptcy of LTV Steel, and as the SD38-2s were on long term lease they were returned to their lessor. The lessor found BN wanting the locomotives for service on secondary lines in Minnesota and North Dakota.The trustee also sold some of the oldest locomotives, the two SW8s and a few SD9s, before finally finding a buyer for the whole operation (Cypress Minerals). One of the former Reserve Mining SD38-2s is now on the PGR in Lakeville, MN, and the rest are on the IAIS in central Iowa, some having served on the Pacific Harbor Line at Los Angeles, CA.
Thanks for the info!