It's 6:17 AM, August 22, 2021. The steam crew has finished their early morning inspection/maintenance and proceed to connect 6988 to the passenger cars. In a few minutes, they'll grab a warrant an... (more)
IAIS 6988 brings the excursion train eastbound through West Liberty for firefighter fundraising trips out of Wilton Iowa.
QJ #6988 is approaching Wilton on the last stretch of the morning's deadhead move from South Amana Yard.
The day before QJ 6988s Oxford & Wilton excursions, the steamer was sent from Newton, IA to South Amana, IA hauling 11 tank cars for a photo freight. Definitely a welcome change from the passenger... (more)
In the morning summer sun, railfans from all over the midwest gather along the banks of the Cedar River in Moscow, IA for, whats rumored to be, one of the final runs of the QJ 6988 steamer.
IAIS QJ 6988 crosses the Iowa River at Iowa City.
IAIS 6988 leads a positioning move East through Moscow.
All of Wilton Iowa comes out to see steam in action as Iowa Interstate puts on a good show supporting the Wilton Fire Department.
Iowa Interstate steam rolls through the cornfields of eastern Iowa on a beautiful day for a good cause supporting our first responders.
QJ 6988 passes the restored Rock Island depot at West Liberty, Iowa on it's way to Wilton.
6988 charges East towards Wilton with the day's excursion consist in tow.
IAIS 6988 leads a positioning move East past the depot in West Liberty.
Iowa Interstate's QJ 6988 leads the deadhead excursion consist over the Cedar River. 6988 will make four scheduled trips between Wilton and Stockton.
With time quickly running out on it's boiler certification, Iowa Interstate QJ steam locomotive 6988 spent the weekend running fire department fundraising excursions for the Oxford and Wilton fire... (more)
