Clearing the Way

The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company could not allow winter to derail its operation in a remote region that can receive upwards of 300 inches of snow each year. Snow removal was serious business, and clear rail lines were essential for moving people, equipment, and supplies that kept the mines operating smoothly. To open the lines after a storm, a steam locomotive pushed the Russell Snowplow through the snowdrifts. Winter brought many challenges, but it did not stand in the way of the people or the mine.

Michigan · United States