News Briefs - May, 2003
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Ohio Central shuts down steam, passenger operations...
The Ohio Central railroad is shutting down steam and passenger operations, due to insurance problems. There policy expires May 25 and no operations will follow.
Pellet production reduced at Empire, Tilden. Algoma Steel lays off...
Dave Schauer on the Ore-List board, reports that Algoma Steel at the Soo is still facing financial problems and plans to layoff 600 employees. Most of the mill's iron ore comes from the Tilden Mine, which is still idled along with sister plant Empire account of the damage to the Presque Isle power plant in Marquette. In addition, CCI has reduced their estimated pellet sales from 20 millions tons this year to 19 million tons.
Marquette flood waters stop LS&I...
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Flood waters rage below the LS&I Dead River bridge, north of Eagle Mills. [City of Marquette] |
LS&I operations between Eagle Mills and the Presque Isle dock have stopped due to the surging flood waters on the Dead River, north and west of Marquette. The flood waters were created because excessive rains washed away a levy. The LS&I is now shut down on the east end and the damage is being assessed. The Presque Isle power plant is also shut down and will remain so through the weekend. As a result, the Empire and Tilden mine operations are idled. Information from Andy Larsen.
Tilden reduces production...
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. today (5/13) announced that pellet production at the Tilden Mine in Michigan is being adversely impacted by an aberration in the crude ore mineralization currently being mined in one area of the open pit mining operation. The localized anomaly is making the ore difficult to process, causing low throughput rates and low recoveries. Tilden's pellet production for the year 2003, which was scheduled to be 8.0 million tons, is now expected to be between 7.2 million tons and 7.5 million tons. The ore grade will adversely impact production until late summer, but is not expected to effect the mine's production level thereafter. The Tilden Mine has pellet reserves in excess of 300 million tons. The lower production level will adversely impact unit production costs at the mine through the second and third quarters. The lower production is not expected to impact the Company's ability to supply iron ore under various sales contracts.
E&LS Power...
Greg Bunce reports that Saturday (5/10) brought an interesting power lashup on the E&LS at Channing. The power consist for the O&B (branch to Ontonagon) was the 4211, 400, 1221 and 3010 (F-9, GP-38, SD-9, and U30C). They had picked up the 4211 and 400 at Sidnaw where they were used Friday to switch out storage cars from the Nestoria branch.
CSX has suffered a major derailment in Holly Township, which occured about 1:30 a.m. this morning, May 7th. Two locomotives were turned on their side, and at least nine cars derailed. Preliminary information suggests that the tracks became flooded out, perhaps by a broken beaver dam. The train crew has been hospitalized with no further information about their well being.