Western Railroad Discussion > Iowa Interstate and an Iowa Marathon Race

Anybody else see this story about the Iowa Intersate? What's that saying "expect a train at anytime". What does it say about the race organizers to plan a race that crosses an active railline?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,568532,00.html

Marty Harrison
Knob Noster, MO

According to the linked article, the organizers did contact the IAIS and were assured there would be no problem with the race being planned across the crossing. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091018/SPORTS14/91018007

Our daughter-in-law was a participant and due to her much slower pace, had no problems with train traffic :)

Ed Schopperth/Papillion NE

Marathons don't have a very good track record with the IAIS. The Quad City Marathon was blocked several years back with the train stopping in the middle of the course to realign a switch and obtain a track warrant. The very next year, another IAIS train ran, but the race coordinator (Mayor of East Moline) decided to park his truck on the crossing, preventing the train from running. I don't recall any legal action against the race coordinator, at least it didn't make the news.

I think the agreement between the race coordinators and the IAIS was over a handshake, not an absolute deal. The QC Marathon has since changed the race route to avoid all railroad crossings.

Erik

It all comes down to coordination. MRL holds trains each year for a few hours while a marathon is held in Helena, MT.

Paul Birkholz
Sheridan, WY

About 20 years ago, an unexpected MKT train was an unregistered participant
in the Heart of America Marathon, at Easley, Mo (Near Columbia).

The Parsons, Kansas to Machen's (STL) Mo. Katy line is long gone, if not mostly
forgotten, but the HOA Marathon celebrated its 50th on Labor Day.

And per the Omaha World Herald this morning, the race was stopped for a short time
by a train which wasn't supposed to be there per Mike Burkhardt.