Double header freight heading east at sunrise.

Iowa Interstates famous Chinese “QJ” 2-10-2 is seen here crossing the Government Bridge from Iowa into Illinois for the final time on its boiler ticket. This would mark the conclusion of the f... (more)

Getting a fresh start outta Newton for the Quad Cities, IAIS QJ 6988 thunders east through Kellogg with 2100 tons of freight.

IAIS 6988 crawls into Illinois over the Government Bridge with 2100 tons of freight.

IAIS 6988 slowly crosses the Mississippi River on the Government Bridge from Iowa into Illinois with 2100 tons of freight.

Making its way over the Rock River in Colona, QJ 6988 advances up to the junction, where it'll wait for a BNSF to pass before continuing on to Bureau.

Leading its train off the wye at Bureau Junction, IAIS 6988 takes it slow as it prepares for lunch in town.

#6988 is rolling right along as it passes the elevator in Mineral.

QJ 6988 is pouring the coals to it as it departs Bureau Junction for the return trip to Silvis.

After a brief stop, QJ 6988 is back on the move as it passes through the town of Mineral. While some railfans are still getting their shots, some are already enroute back to their vehicles to cont... (more)

IAIS 6988 storms east through Geneseo, passing the nicely restored depot. The QJ ran a couple excursions this weekend before heading into the Silvis shop for a restoration.

IAIS 6988 steams across the Cedar River into Moscow with 2100 tons of freight in tow.

I barely had time to get ready for the shot as IAIS 6988 wastes no time flying into Atalissa past the old depot with 2100 tons of freight.

IAIS 6988 flys through West Liberty at every bit of track-speed with 2100 tons of freight in tow as the train heads around the curve past the historic depot.

IAIS 6988 throttles up as they depart a crew changing point at Brooklyn with 2100 tons of freight as they head towards Silvis.