Built in 1917.

One of my favorite short lines, the Iowa Traction, has just been acquired by Progressive Rail. Hopefully, the electrics will continue to run. In this photo, motors 60 and 51 switch at the shops in... (more)

Iowa traction number 50 is a 50-ton steeplecab, built by Baldwin-Westinghouse in 1920 as Washington & Old Dominion Number 50. It was acquired by the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City in 1947, was rebuilt a... (more)

The Spencer, IA, to Mason City, IA, local has just arrived Mason and has setout their 4 SD40-2's to the yard. Now the crew will go grab the decked out/washed CP SD60's at the roundhouse and put th... (more)

All washed and decked out for a special run today for their Company Photographer, CP gathered up 3 rebuild ex-SOO SD60's and headed them to Mason City for this Hartley Ethanol load. Here the train... (more)

As evening falls sets in, Mother Nature is building up for another winter storm in Iowa. Here 2 northbound UP trains wait for rested crew in Flint Yard, on the south side of Mason City. From here ... (more)

Trainmasters for Iowa Northern and DM&E watch the 1st revenue Iowa Northern train for the Garner Sub, past the old Milwaukee Road depot at Mason. The IANR acquired this newline between Forest City... (more)

A crew member uncouples a cut of cars from IATR #51's train near the railroad's shops. This is one of the last electric freight railroads in the country, and their fleet of 4 steeplecabs make the ... (more)

Where else can you find historic steeplecabs pulling freight in the United States? The answer: no where. The Iowa Traction Railroad is one of the last electric freight operations in the country. T... (more)

The middle of summer in America's heartland.

Another timeless workday on the Iowa Traction begins with a pickup off the ICE interchange (seen on the right track), motor #54 with it's distinctive headlamps backs into the siding where sister #... (more)

Only In Iowa: In Mason City, Iowa, the tradition of traction railroading rolls on at the Iowa Traction Railroad, as ITRR 54 rolls around the curve near the Union Pacific Interchange in August 2010... (more)

CNW Alco S2 #1086 resting at Mason City, Iowa || June 1975

The conductor positions the rear pole while the engineer looks out the window on one of the Iowa Traction 90 year old museum pieces.