June 26 – Iron Through the Bloom

Making its scenic run from Duluth to Two Harbors, Locomotive 28 carries more than passengers—it carries history. This iron workhorse is a living reminder of an era when steam and steel connected the North Shore, moving timber, ore, and people through a rugged and growing land. Long before it comes into view, its presence is known—the distant whistle, the rhythmic churning, the ground trembling beneath its approach.

Set against the quiet beauty of summer, the contrast is striking. The engine, powered by fire and coal, moves with purpose, while lupine and pine stand in peaceful stillness, flourishing in the warmth of the season. Together, they tell a story of provision—natural resources given, and human ingenuity applied.

June brings the Northland to full expression. The air is alive with sound, color, and motion, each part playing its role in a greater design. From the smallest bloom to the might of a locomotive, all bear witness to a world carefully sustained.

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” — Jeremiah 32:17

These enduring machines helped shape a nation, yet they also point beyond themselves—toward a power far greater, seen in both creation and the hands that learn to work within it.