IAIS 6988 charges eastbound just outside town with the first of the Mitchellville steam excursions!

Iowa Interstate 6988 heads east to Mitchelville at a rural railroad crossing west of town.

Iowa Interstate "QJ" #6988 really brought out the crowds as the Datong, China built steam locomotive highballs through the small town of Altoona, Iowa.

Returning from Altoona with an excursion, Iowa Interstate "QJ" 6988 puts on a great show!

6988 is out in the country but will soon arrive in Mitchellville.

Iowa Interstate QJ 6988 leads a excursion east, just west of Michellville.

Iowa Interstate QJ 6988 leads a excursion into Mitchellville. Word on the street has it this is the last weekend of excursions for the 6988 before retirement.

6988 leads one of its trips back into Mitchellville, where it will re-load passengers.

IAIS QJ 6988 leads the 2nd trip out of five up the hill and into Altoona.

IAIS QJ #6988 leads an eastbound passenger train at Altoona Iowa.

IAIS 6988 leads her second steam excursion trip of the day towards Mitchellville where she will take on 1,000 more gallons of water. IAIS 703 would lead the train West and 6988 would take it back ... (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.

Iowa Interstate QJ's 6988 and 7081 double-head a freight train from Iowa City to Rock Island to position themselves for Train Festival 2011.