Western Railroad Discussion > CN Iowa Zone Report 11 21 2020

Saturday turned out to be a nice day so got out of the house and went north to Fort Dodge, Iowa and environs. I went to school at Iowa Central Comunity College from 1987 to 1989, my dorm room faced the old CGW on the CNW, now UP. UP didnt run a train yesterday around there But the CN was busy. 

1. Light power at Tara coming off the Omaha Line. This power had taken a train down the Ida Grove Branch overnight. 

2. This is the Fort Dodge yard engine, L577. They make a trip up the hill daily to switch Valero and Cargill and make up the pickup for Sioux City Train L568 which becomes L570 out of here to Waterloo. 

3. Something you dont see in Iowa(usually) in November...a hot air balloon. 

 

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4. Up next a 0800 Fort Dodge crew came up the hill light power, This was power for a G888 grain train out of Knierem. They wyed the power inside the Cargill plant came back out then went lite down the Omaha, 

5. Same set of power after being flipped. Tara used to have a gate protected the diamond here with the UP(MSTL) up til a few years ago. 

6. After its work L577 returns lite power back into Ft. Dodge. In this area is where the MSTL years ago went under the IC years ago back where the bridge is. 

 

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7. After having lunch with my friend Craig on his layover, it was back out to Tara. First up is the L568 from Sioux City. The crew on this train had taken L569 out of Ft. Dodge earlier in the morning and met the Sioux City crew with 568 at Carney Siding(Cherokee). Now they are picking up the cars that L577 had built and adding to the train. 

8. The old depot at Tara still stands after years of detoration, 

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9. G888 now is together so the crew brings the train east towards Waterloo. It will meet L571 at New Hartford. This is at MP379 coming downhill. 

10. G888 again at MP375 in Fort Dodge making good speed. Friendly crew as well. 

 

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11. My friend Craig was called for 1400 for L570 , so they arrived at Tara from Ft. Dodge around 1430. First thing they had to do was arm the marker. Train had 111 cars and two CSX motors. 

12. Smile for the camera 

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13. Next up L570 had a 7 car pickup from the nitro plant at Judd, aka Farmland Wye just west of Duncombe IA

14. Skyline of Duncombe in back 

15 Backing up the branch towards the plant 

By then it was getting close to 1600 so I headed on home while listening to Iowa beat Penn State. A good day to get outside. 

Thanks for looking. Comments/questions welcome as always. 

MILW86A 

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Nice shots, neat to see those areas. From what I see in Chicago, traffic has picked up. There now seems to be at least 1 grain and 1 ethanol train each way a day, which of course is seasonal.

Great coverage  and narrative.  Thanks for sharing.  Quite the day  up towards Northwest Iowa!!.

Pat

Okay, nice stuuf, K-Man, thanks for posting.  Now, what do they use for crossing protection at Tara now that the gates are gone?  I couldn't see any signals in your shots.  

Nick Tharalson, 
Marion, IA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/20 07:36 by ntharalson.

ntharalson Wrote:
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> Okay, nice stuuf, K-Man, thaks for posting.  NOw,
> what do they use for crossing protection at Tara
> now that the gates are gone?  I couldn't see any
> signals in your shots.  
>
> Nick Tharalson, 
> Marion, IA

There are signals on the UP side. No I didnt take any shots. I have some before they were placed in service. CN still controls the plant as usual.

MILW86A 

Nice photos . I grew up near Mason City but live in LA now so it is nice to see pictures from Iowa. Is your friend Craig also a photographer? I think I've seen his photos over  at RailPics. Good job to both of you and thank you! 

Nice series. Looks like you really know the territory.

Nice series! Neat catch on the older paint pair of CSXT engines.