Empty ethanol train climbs the grade into the former siding at Beth. The old westbound signal for the east switch is still standing out of service. Evening runs across the Dubuque Sub isn't too co... (more)

Back in October 2022, the daily Waterloo to Kirk Yard trains, began running with alot of SD70M-2's. Pairs, trios, and a 5-pack of solid EMD's were seen in and out of Waterloo. A big departure from... (more)

Back in October 2022, the daily Waterloo to Kirk Yard trains, began running with alot of SD70M-2's. Pairs, trios, and a 5-pack of solid EMD's were seen in and out of Waterloo. A big departure from... (more)

Iowa has seen a few solid IC SD70's consists come and go. Today the weather was not ideal, I will take the sun. The past few consists have had bad weather or I have been on them. Today a 2x1 DP-d... (more)

Iowa has seen a few solid IC SD70's consists come and go. Today the weather was not ideal, I will take the sun. The past few consists have had bad weather or I have been on them. Today a 2x1 DP-d... (more)

CNW 205, former CGW 108C, waits alongside the diesel shops to be hostled onto a freight consist for an outbound train from Oelwein. F units were common on trains operating through Oelwein into the... (more)

Unfortunately the CP passenger train was the hottest thing around Ottumwa, so the BNSF held trains and delayed Amtrak even further into Ottumwa. Here the California Zephyr is down about 3'-41"... (more)

Eastbound coal train works across the BNSF Ottumwa Sub in southern Iowa. This is a mainly coal route between Lincoln, NE, and Galesburg, IL. Many wooden overpasses litter the line thru Iowa. The t... (more)

An odd ball move was this burrow crane moving from Superior, WI, to Ashland, NE. The train was restricted in speed with the crane in tow, and with a "01" date, that pretty well shows tha... (more)

Dynamics howl as the engineer on 338 tries to keep the heavy tonnage at speed as they cross the Wapsipinicon River in Independence. Down hill fast, up hill slow, is the name of the game on the Dub... (more)

Another Friday chase of the evening local out of Cedar Rapids. The 567 again got enough traffic over the week to warrant the 5459 for a 2nd motor. Traffic has stayed steady in this area unlike som... (more)

CN hadn't run anything on the Cedar Rapids Branch since 12/23. After a couple days of heavy wind and some snow from the last storm, the branch was drifted in pretty good in spots. An extra crew wa... (more)

CN hadn't run anything on the Cedar Rapids Branch since 12/23. After a couple days of heavy wind and some snow from the last storm, the branch was drifted in pretty good in spots. An extra crew wa... (more)

Lots of times the CN in Iowa needs a 3rd unit, sometimes called a kicker, to get the tonnage over the grades east of Waterloo. Most days the consist is sent out as a 3-unit set, but sometimes a SD... (more)

From Tuesday thru Saturday the locals on the Omaha Sub work and usually meet at Denison. The jobs normal run with a single SD60 that faces forward since they wye power at both ends. With the Omaha... (more)