Duluth is a city located in northeastern Minnesota, on the westernmost point of Lake Superior. It is known as the "Gateway to the Great Lakes" and is a major port for freight transportation. The city's port is the largest on the Great Lakes, handling over 35 million tons of cargo annually. Duluth's strategic location on Lake Superior has made it a hub for shipping goods such as iron ore, coal, grain, and timber.

The history of freight transportation in Duluth dates back to the late 19th century when the city became a key player in the iron ore industry. The discovery of vast iron ore deposits in the Mesabi Range, located just west of Duluth, led to a boom in mining and shipping. The city's harbor was expanded to accommodate larger ships, and railroads were built to transport the iron ore from the mines to the port. Today, Duluth continues to be a major center for the shipping industry, with a diverse range of cargo passing through its port.

Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area. It was originally part of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, a group of settlers who received land grants in the early 1820s. The city was officially incorporated in 1956 and has since grown into a thriving community with a population of over 75,000.

One interesting aspect of Missouri City's history is its connection to the railroad industry. In the early 1900s, the city was a major transportation hub for the sugar industry. The Imperial Sugar Company, one of the largest sugar refineries in the country, had a rail line that connected its refinery to the main railroad line. This rail line was used to transport sugar cane from the surrounding plantations to the refinery, as well as to transport the finished sugar products to other parts of the country. Although the rail line is no longer in use today, the city's history as a transportation hub is still evident in its infrastructure and layout.