Off to Chicago, the daily EB freight grinds upgrade toward Homestead after departing the beautiful new yard and shop area. Really wished they had swapped those units.

Iowa River Ackley turn at Abbot

The Iowa Northern and Canadian National operated a joint special across the majority of the railroad over 2 days. Many high-end officials sat down and talked about the many aspects of the upcoming... (more)

The Iowa Northern and Canadian National operated a joint special across the majority of the railroad over 2 days. Many high-end officials sat down and talked about the many aspects of the upcoming... (more)

Iowa Northern Butler turn in Shell Rock

Back in 1993, the Cedar River flooded out the CNW mainline around Cedar Rapids. Mainline trains ended up making the slow trek thru downtown Cedar Rapids for a few days. Later this day, the trains ... (more)

Today a 2x1 DP-d 338 fights the 30mph wind as they make their way towards Chicago and Kirk Yard. Here the train slows as they climb Big Raymond Hill outside of Raymond with almost 16,000 tons of t... (more)

For a long time, the CN in Iowa looked a lot like this. Especially west of Waterloo, big power didn't roam much, and it would normally be on unit trains only. With that, SD40's own the railroad. ... (more)

IATR 51 and 54 sit in the yard in Mason City. The warm morning sun hits the Steeple cabs before the crews get to the power and start the day.

The "Empress" crosses the Mighty Mississippi in Sabula, bound for Nahant Yard in Davenport.

An eastbound coal train is rounding the curve at the point where the bypass and the main converge again on the east side of town.

The diesel passenger run poses briefly with the Chinese 2-8-2, which is slowly coming around, a process we got to witness firsthand in the cab. The "awakening" of a steamer is one of my... (more)

A pair of SD70ACe's are on the point of loaded BNSF coal train C BKMOTM0 19A as it sits tied down on the main outside of Ottumwa, Iowa. This train is bound for the Muscatine Generating Station, wh... (more)

Iowa Interstate train CBBI at Newton

What I believe is the only standard cab dash 8 on CSX now, this former Pan AM unit, made a tour to Iowa earlier this summer. Heading back to Chicago on 338, we nabbed it transversing the Winthrop ... (more)