The yard dog.

A small group of people gather at Newton as the 6988 departs for South Amana.

Iowa Interstate ES44AC 503 brings up the rear DPU of a late running CBBI as it rolls across US Route 6 and heads into Newton, Iowa, which is typically where this train would get its crew. A hotbox... (more)

After the excursion, 6988 was wyed in Newton here and backing up to be put away for the night, while the CBBI manifest waits for a crew to take the train east.

A few minutes after sunrise, 6988 is seen getting prepared for it's final runs before the locomotive's 1472 is up.

6988 pulls its cut of cars towards the east siding switch so IAIS 708 can couple on the rear and begin its shakedown run to South Amana and return.

IAIS 6988 is close to completing its first maintenance run as it rounds the curve outside of Newton Iowa.

As a pop up thunderstorm passes to the east, Iowa Interstate 6988 has completed its first maintenance run between Kellogg and Newton as it pulls into the yard so the crew can make some adjustments... (more)

Iowa Interstate 6988 has coupled up to its train & is pulling out of the shop lead as it begins its deadhead move to Brooklyn, Iowa.

Iowa Interstate 6988 has coupled up to its train & is pulling out of the shop lead as it begins its deadhead move to Brooklyn, Iowa.

In preparation for a weekend excursion, volunteers fill the tender and make final adjustments to the QJ. The train will run on both Saturday and Sunday to support fire departments along Iowa Inter... (more)

Dressed in it's new livery, IAIS QJ 6988 goes for a blue flag test run on the house track at Newton. Gone is everything white to be replaced with IAIS yellow and "GEVO lightening bolts" on the ele... (more)

A look inside the shop building where Iowa Interstate's 2-10-2 QJ's call home. The south end of the building contains a drop pit (under the regulator) and a work shop area.

A load of 56.9 M wind generator blades has been loaded and waits for the IAIS crew to pull the loads and bring in some empties. The blade are bound for the UP in Des Moines, Iowa then on to Amaril... (more)

This train has pulled up at the west end of the yard for a crew change. I was a big thrill to see this interesting operation again. After seeing such good stuff just passing thru an Iowa trip is... (more)