Eastbound Iowa Interstate Excursion with QJ 6988 and 7081 and Milwaukee Road 261
The Nitron local heads east on joint track past the old Rock Island depot. The DME SD40-2 is heading to NRE in Silvis for work.
The conductor checks the switch points after aligning the switch for the RISW. The conductor and brakeman will drive back into the yard to do more work.
IAIS 717 drills the east end of the yard and crosses the "Have a Happy Day" viaduct along 5th Ave.
Anyone want to wager a bet on another triple header happening soon? The safer bet may be inside the Casino to the right in downtown Rock Island!
In response to John West's photo ( Click Here ), you're right, that's the kind of photo you'd be more likely to see in Illinois.
My first cab photo - surprised no one has posted this one yet. Interior of former Jitong Railway QJ #7081. The writing on the green box should put to rest the official road number of the train!
The perfectly lit nose of Milwaukee Road #261, so elusive to the photographers during the chase.
The beautiful Milwaukee Road #261 rests after pulling excursions through the weekend.
Milwaukee 261 moves away from her train as the 2 Chinese QJ's took the train set out for an excursion during River Way 2006.
The cool QJ logo that only the 6988 possesses, attached to the front of its smokestack. It was applied sometime in the week prior to the excursions. Anyone care to translate?
IAIS 6988 leads an excursion eastbound out of Rock Island with 7081 and 261 trailing
Friday's RiverWay 2006 excursion is over and the steam crews are preparing for Saturday's big triple-header.
Members of Iowa Interstate and Friends of the 261 prepare QJ 7081 for its excursions during Rock Island's Riverway fest.
The 261 deserves some attention too - after all, it was the one that made it a triple header.