Early in the workday, the sun is still low but crews are hard at work moving freight on the Iowa Traction. 100 year old plus electric motors show no sign of yielding to more common shortline power... (more)

As the last interurban, Iowa Traction's operations are completely unique. Here, #51 crosses 19th Street to take four cars up to the CP interchange. On the back of the engine, the conductor is pull... (more)

Iowa Traction #51 sits under a starry Iowa sky, illuminated by the lights of the AGP Mason City plant. The steam and exhaust from the plant is streaking in the background in this eight second expo... (more)

Ancient Colors
Number 51 is waiting for the days work at Emery, IA along highway 106 west of Mason City, Iowa on a pleasant July morning.

The 1921 built number 51 occupies 15 Street SW as it heads for another cut of covered hoppers from the Canadian Pacific interchange.

Sometimes the shadow can be your friend. I like how the ground guy's shadow it prefect in on the ground and how the motorman is working on flipping the trolley pole for direction change in this sh... (more)

Emery is where the Iowa Traction is based with a yard and a few customers. Alot of operations happen more in Mason City around the AGP plant, so I was happy to get some rare mileage for me. The IA... (more)

An Iowa Traction electric enters the AGP corn facility to pick up cars while a truck loaded with corn waits to enter and unload its cargo.

Locomotives:
IATR 51 BLW Steeple Cab

Iowa Traction #50 shoves a cut of empty covered hoppers into the AGP corn processing plant in Mason City, Iowa.

Locomotives:
IATR 50 BLW Steeple Cab

An Iowa Traction steeple cab electric moves tank cars around at the transload facility next to the railroad's engine terminal building.

Locomotives:
IATR 54 BLW Steeple Cab

IATR steeple cab electric #50 is tied up for the day outside the AGP facility after the crew finished serving the industry.

Locomotives:
IATR 50 BLW Steeple Cab

The Iowa Traction Railroad BLW steeple cab electric number 50 heads past the AGP corn processing plant after shoving in a cut of covered hoppers.

Locomotives:
IATR 50 BLW Steeple Cab

The Iowa Traction railroad uses BLW steeple cab electric number 50 to shove a large cut of covered hoppers into the AGP corn processing facility in Mason City, Iowa.

Locomotives:
IATR 5... (more)

If you haven’t seen the Iowa Traction RR. in person you might not believe it really exists. This Iowa shortline is the operating remnant of a genuine beside the road electric interurban right ou... (more)

Iowa Traction RR IATR 54 is tied down at Mason City outside the AGP elevator on the south end of town.