Mineral Range Railroad Explained

Railroad Name:Mineral Range Railroad
Marks:MRA
Locale:Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Start Year:2002
Hq City:Ishpeming, Michigan
Length:17 miles
Website:http://www.mineralrange.us

The Mineral Range Railroad (reporting mark MRA) is a shortline railroad in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It began operations in 2002.[1]

In 2012, it acquired an ex-Lake Superior and Ishpeming line between Humboldt Mill and Ishpeming.[2]

The Humboldt Mill was reopened in 2014 and is operated by Eagle Mine, owned by Lundin Mining.[3] It was originally opened in 1954 by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, who operated it until 1979. Between 1985 and 1990, Callahan Mining Company used it to process gold from the Ropes Gold Mine in Ishpeming, Michigan. After several changes in ownership, Eagle Mine started to use it for nickel and copper extraction in 2014.[3]

Traffic on the Mineral Range Railroad primarily consists of nickel and copper ore concentrates.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mineral Range Railroad profile . 2023-07-13 . Trains . en-US.
  2. Web site: Surface Transportation Board . August 23, 2012 . Mineral Range, Inc.--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--Rail Line of Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad Company . July 18, 2022.
  3. Web site: Eagle Mine Operations | Michigan. 2023-01-01. Eagle Mine. en.