Iowa Traction 51 pulls a cut of cars east towards its two Class One interchanges, crossing Eisenhower on the way.

Minutes before a crew member will climb aboard and get 51 started for the day's work, it finishes its slumber in Mason City.

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)

Electric Power Iowa Traction steeplecab electric No. 51 has a lot of work to do in order to get this string of loaded cars to the CP interchange track. Due to the steep grade leaving AGP, ... (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.

Isn't too hard to find the Iowa Traction lines, just follow the pole line! This Monday morning finds 2 jobs out at Emery doing a push-pull operation to get cars spotted at the local gas customer. ... (more)

One thing that is kind of cool about the Iowa Traction is how the operator must change the trolley pole for the direction of travel. So the operator does alot of moving around from end to end as h... (more)

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

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

IATR steeplecab # 51 will celebrate its 100th anniversary in five short years in 2021. Quite an amazing feat for this small locomotive.

Iowa Traction 51 is down on its knees pulling a long cut of loaded hoppers upgrade. When the rear end clears the switch, IATR 60 will tie onto the rear car, pull the drag back down the hill, then... (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)