One thing that is crazy is all the houses and cars that are abandoned out here that nature is taking back. The Rapid City to Huron east train pokes along at 10 mph as they make the last 18 miles i... (more)

"Water", that was the word on the street in this state. An unusual wet summer has made operations on the RCP&E difficult. From wash outs, to slow orders, to the lack of people, to congestion, the ... (more)

An Eagle Pass, TX, to Superior, WI, empty ore train rumble along the frozen Mississippi River between Lynxville and Ferryville on the Aurora Sub. The train is lead by a rebuild AC44C4M, which is a... (more)

A Portland to Chicago Q-train rolls along the backwaters of the Mississippi River a few miles south of Lynxville. The train is working down the Aurora Sub near MP 250, and is around 243 mile from ... (more)

Family vacation up to my in-law's trailer near Harpers Ferry this week allowed for some interesting shooting locations. Unfortunately I didn't make the most out of it cause the timing of trains di... (more)

I heard rumors that the UP got rid of their job based in Waterloo couple weeks ago. Guess today I seen it for myself. The Iowa Northern's Oelwein Job and the Waterloo Switcher are both working cus... (more)

The Iowa Northern ran a passenger special out of Waterloo on this Good Friday. The trip went from Bryant Yard in Waterloo to the end of the property at Cedar Rapids for investors and accountants. ... (more)

Sunday's night B-41 local left Mason City around 2am with a wedge plow and 69 cars for the Sheldon Sub. Multiple derailments of the plow at iced over crossing changed the plans around noon. The pl... (more)

With 98 loads in hand this loaded ethanol train has just put in a good workout to get up the 1.4% grade into Calmar. This B-36 local crew has this 650-746 loaded ethanol train rolling east towards... (more)

A loaded ethanol train out of western Iowa fights the grade between Winthrop and Masonville. A nice leader heads up this train bound for interchange with the NS in Chicago. The train is currently ... (more)

Daily Waterloo to Kirk Yard manifest train rolls over the hogbacks of the Dubuque Sub between Raymond and Jesup. The train is only 11 miles into the trip to Kirk. Although fairy decent size today ... (more)

Normally ever spring a weed spray train runs across the Iowa Zone on the CN. Each year you never know what type unit CN will put on it for power. This year a nice treat was this GE cowl unit. Here... (more)

I was completely shocked to see 2 cowl units leading the daily Kirk Yard to Waterloo manifest train. With more PTC becoming in service across CN there is a push for PTC leaders to be on trains as ... (more)

Was a busy day on Saturday, 7/20, by my place along the Dubuque Sub. During daylight 6 trains passed by between Waterloo and Manchester. Normally this section only has 1 scheduled train in dayligh... (more)

The morning sun is trying to burn off the humidity morning as a westbound empty ethanol train bound for western Iowa blazes across the hogbacks of the Dubuque Sub.The train has just passed thru In... (more)