The Saturday RiverWay 2006 triple-header departs Rock Island yard and heads for Bureau with stops at Silvis, Geneseo and Atkinson.

The QJs and 261 make it home at 44th Street Rock Island.

QJs 6988 & 7081 team up with MILW 261 on a tripleheader excursion to Bureau, Illinois.

The 6988 with both cylinder cocks open puts on a show for the crowd as it pulls out of Rock Island Yard in order to spot the triple-header on the outside track. Centennial bridge is in the backgro... (more)

Like the Chinese dragons they somewhat resemble, the two QJs (and the 261!) start 'em up at Rock Island breathing smoke and steam.

I attempted to re-create a David Plowden shot for my AP Photo class. Jitong Railway 6988 had the honor of heading the triple header. Here's the link to the shot. http://davidplowden.com/photograph... (more)

QJs 6988 & 7081 return from Iowa City, Iowa, coming off the US Government Bridge at the Rock Island, Illinois Arsenal.

A twilight dinner cruise pulled by a pair of 2-10-2's swings onto the Government Bridge to cross the Mississippi River.

Iowa Interstate's two Chinese QJs, 6988 and 7081, pass under the Centennial Bridge getting ready for the dedication ceremony and the opening of Riverway 2006.

The firebox glows with fire as Milwuakee Road steam engine 261 sits in Rock Island.

Iowa Interstate QJ 7081 sits in Rock Island as part of Riverway 2006.

"In the white-hot spotlights", Milwaukee Road 261 poses under the Centennial Bridge at Rock Island, Illinois. Special thanks to my wife Tami, for supplying the flash-fill.

QJ 6988 puffs away at Rock Island, Illinois, waiting to show her stuff on the weekend trips out of Rock Island, Illinois for the RiverWay celebration. Kudos to Tami McNair, who provided the flash-... (more)

QJ 7081 stands in front of sister 6988 at Rock Island, Illinois, ready to start a big weekend paying tribute to the 150th Anniversary of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River.

It's a showdown! QJ 7081 and MILW 261 have a stare-off in the night at Rock Island, Illinois.