Operations at Erie Mining's Hoyt Lakes mine were stopped in February 2001, but shipments from Taconite Harbor continued for a couple of years as stock piles were depleted. From what I've read, much of the equipment at the taconite pellet plant at Hoyt Lakes was worn out, but what doomed the mine and taconite plant was the decline in demand for steel that impacted LTV Steel and others. In early 2001 LTV Steel was forced to layoff 500 employees and idle one of three blast furnaces at Cleveland. This was around the time when Inland Steel found itself in financial difficulties and Bethlehem Steel went bankrupt, Both companies were taken over by Wilbur Ross' International Steel Group (ISG).
Mining at Hoyt Lake started around 1955 or so, with the taconite plant and the ore dock at Taconite Harbor being constructed between 1954-1957 by Pickands and Mather. The ore dock was designed for the larger ships in the future, even though construction of the new Poe Lock wouldn't start until 1961 and open in 1969. Steward J. Cort was designed to use the conveyor systems at Taconite Harbor and Silver Bay.
Several otehr companies had ownership in the Erie Mining, including Stelco, Republic Steel and Jones and Laughlin.
The May 2001 issue of Railfan and Railroad covered the operations at Hoyt Lake and discussed the financial issues facing the operations at that time. Some nice photos of the F9, GP20m and chop-nosed RS11's they had, too.
The ore dock has a capacity of 100,000 tons with 25 bins for storage. In good years, shipments were 8 million tons. Trains usually had 93 cars with 8,000 tons of taconite pellets.
Erie Mining Company and Taconite Harbor
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Wxbuoy
Erie Mining Company and Taconite Harbor
Taconite Harbor owned and operated by Erie Mining Company was located many miles and hours ahead of Silver Bay, Two Harbors and docks in the HOL/twin ports. Why was use of this dock discontinued? It seems like logical to save hours sailing and loading there versus any other Lake Superior ports. It was almost due West of Copper Harbor and they had really cool F9 locomotives pulling the ore cars. I was fortunate to load there in the fall of 1991 on the Ryerson. Later delivered Coal loads to the power plant and hopper on the dock while on the Mesabi Miner and James R Barker. It seems like companies would want to invest in the operation to save time and money over the course of a season. Any input and observations are appreciated. Pickands/Mathers was part of this operation correct? Was it built and designed for the Bethlehem fleet primarily the Cort? Thanks in advance for any input!