Western Railroad Discussion > A Bit Busy at Ottumwa

I made a trip to Ottumwa, Iowa yesterday and managed to catch a few trains.

1) On my way to Ottumwa, I took the time to catch the eastbound California Zephyr running left-handed up Agency Hill on the BNSF east of Ottumwa.

2) The next stop was the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ottumwa Yard on the west side of the town.  Looking from the crossing on the geographic east end of the yard, I spotted a loaded oil train, CPKC 576, waiting to go south.  Radio chatter earlier indicated there would be a meet here.

3) Just a few minutes later, southbound mixed freight train CPKC 260 showed up with CP 8503 leading by the last former Milwaukee Road signals in Ottumwa.  In the background is the bridge between the south side of the Des Moines River and Turkey Island.

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4) Second out on 260 was former Union Pacific SD9043MAC CP 3705.

5) Looks like gray spray paint was used to cross out 'Union Pacific' and add 'CP' a couple times.

6) SD40-2 KCS 695 was third out.  I'd have to check to be sure, but this might be my first time catching a standard cab Kansas City Southern engine.

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7) Loaded bulkhead flatcar IARX 024.  I don't see a lot of rolling stock with 0 as the first digit.

8) Old Soo Line covered hopper SOO 74491 built in September 1976.

9) CP 428152 looked like an old gondola that's now in MoW service.

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10) A Tier 4 Gevo is the DPU on the end.

11) KCS 5024.

12) Turns out while 260 was going into the yard, its counterpart was coming in the other end.  This put three trains in the yard at the same time.  From left to right we have the aforementioned 576 on the main (rear DPU KCS 4588 visible), 261 on Track 1, and 260 finishing going into Track 2.

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13) With its crew change complete, the headlights on 261 lit up.

14) 261 pulled forward before getting the light to leave the yard.

15) The light to leave the yard.

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16) Belle ACe KCS 4024 led 261 out of the yard.

17) AC4400 CP 9706 was the trailing unit.  I later heard radio chatter that sounded like this engine would be set out at Luke Yard in Muscatine.

18) Passing the green over red.

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19) The signal once it dropped to red over red.

20) There was a line of empty flatcars in the middle of the train.  Most of them were Iowa, Chicago, & Eastern.

21) There were a couple Soo Line flats as well.

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22) A loaded TTX flatcar.

23-24) KCSM 4676 working as the mid-train DPU.

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25) An Employee Owned North Western logo surprised me.

26) A full look at covered hopper TCWR 41006.

27) Covered hopper SOO 75267.

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28-29) Loaded gondola TFM 60672.

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My Take on KCS 4024 on that train 261.  Indeed 2nd motor was dropped off and about 1 day later, approx 250 miles away on Sunday the 25th.  First photo we are at Dresbach, MN.  Water in background is the Mississippi.

2nd photo  is at Dakota, MN.  Dispatcher informed the crew that a  Dogcatch crew will be meeting them  upriver. The crew change at Marquette, Iowa is only 68 miles south of Dresbach, MN,  a very long day for this crew. I only heard part of train totals  and they were over  12,000 tons.

Happy Trails,

PWM

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Very nice series of pics. I'm reading this as I'm coming through Ottumwa right now on the EB Zephyr.
Joe

Quakerengr Wrote:
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> I only heard part of train totals  and they were
> over  12,000 tons.
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> PWM

Nice shots.  Great to see the train further on.  The bit I caught over the radio said they were 7,591 tons before leaving Ottumwa.

Trainatic Wrote:
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> Very nice series of pics. I'm reading this as I'm
> coming through Ottumwa right now on the EB
> Zephyr.
> Joe

Thanks.  I saw your train catch up to a coal train at Agency.

 

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Nice series!

Agent Wrote:
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> 17) AC4400 CP 9706 was the trailing unit.  I
> later heard radio chatter that sounded like this
> engine would be set out at Luke Yard in
> Muscatine.

Yep, it was there when I went in to work Sat. evening.

Andy

 

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Wow, what a great series of shots! Looks like you had a good day shooting. Thanks for sharing!

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer