DM&IR was an iron ore hauling railroad in Minnesota. Iron ore is a heavy commodity and the DM&IR operated long trains of ore cars, requiring as much power as the railroad could find. Capable of developing 6,000 drawbar horsepower, No. 227 made routine work of handling 180-190 car trains weighing more than 18,000 tons. The
2-8-8-4s produced 140,000 lbf (620 kN) of tractive effort, and had the most weight on drivers so that they were not as prone to slipping as were other Yellowstones.
Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range
2-8-8-4 Steam Locomotive
No. 227 retired in 1960, as diesel locomotives completely took over on the Missabe Road. Weighing some 566 tons, and stretching 128 feet in length, the 2-8-8-4s were the most powerful Yellowstones built.