Proctor, near Duluth, was the home base of the Duluth Missabi and Iron Range Railway and its predecessor roads the D&IR and the DM&N. Proctor was created in 1892 when the railroad was extending into Duluth and needed large flat areas. It was the largest such yard in the world. In 1894, the village was incorporated as Proctorknott after J. Proctor Knott, a U.S. Congressman from Kentucky who delivered a satirical speech ridiculing Duluth. The name was later shortened to Proctor. Thousands of cars were handled daily.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Floor of DM & N Railway's Proctor locomotive back shop with group of three men and a boy looking at the photographer as workers glance up from their tasks among five locomotives.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The interior of the north round house of the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway yards at Proctor. A round house is a circular or semicircular building, near a turntable, used for repairs or for storage of locomotives. Early steam locomotives normally only travelled forward.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Tweleve members and coach of the Machine Shop D. & I. R. Baseball Team. The letters D. & I. R. herald and "MS" on the uniforms. This photograph was used on page 19 of the Christmas 1936 issue of the D. M. & N. Safety and Welfare Magazine.
Seven members and coach of the General Office D. & I. R. Baseball Team. The letters D. & I. R. herald and "GO" on the uniforms. This photo was used on page 19 of the Christmas 1936 issue of the D. M. & N. Safety and Welfare Magazine.
Ten members and coach of the Car Shop D. & I. R. Baseball Team. The letters D. & I. R. herald and "CS" are on the uniforms. This photograph was used on page 19 of the Christmas 1936 issue of the D. M. & N. Safety and Welfare Magazine.
An unknown D.M. & I.R. crewman sitting in the Fireman's seat of a Yellowstone type steam locomotive. Dressed in typical coveralls, hat gloves and boots. Gauges and valves of the locomotive are visible.
D.M. & I.R. steam locomotive 1223, pulling passenger car W55. Train is operating as Proctor Jitney (a jitney is a vehicle that carries passengers for a low fare), between the roundhouse and the back shop.
The D.M. & I.R. Proctor Passenger Depot looking at it from the southwest with crossing gates and tower and shop building and water tower in the background.
Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway was formed by the merger of the Duluth and Iron Range Railway (D&IR) and Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway (DM&N) in 1938. It was a railroad operating in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin to haul iron ore and later taconite to the Great Lakes port of Duluth, Minnesota, and Two Harbors, Minnesota. DM&IR train is shown leaving Proctor, Minnesota.
Roster photograph of D.M. & I.R. 325, Pittsburgh, 2-8-0, Consolidation type outside the Proctor, Minnesota Roundhouse. Also included are portions of 1205, 84 and a Yellowstone. Photograph was taken from the overhead walkway across the Proctor Yard.
D.M. & I.R. steam locomotive number 221 passing through the Proctor Yard with a train of empty ore cars. In the background are loaded ore cars with varied colors of red ore.