Western Railroad Discussion > Semiquincentennial in Southeast Iowa

Back on Thursday, I had my first chance to catch a semiquincentennial unit with the KCS 1776 leading the northbound CPKC mixed freight train 253 out of Ottumwa, Iowa.

1) First look from the Agency-Hedrick railroad crossing looking southwest (railroad south) toward Ottumwa.  Milepost 292 can be seen on the left.

2) The train appears among the old poles.

3) KCS 1776 on the point with rain clouds in the background.

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4) New ET44AC CP 7582 in CPKC paint is the trailing unit.

5) KCSM 4905 as the mid-train DPU.

6) Video of 253 going through the highway crossing.

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Before 253 left Ottumwa, it was advised it would probably meet two trains at Linby Siding.

7) 1776 and 7582 waiting near the north end of the siding.  Soon planting season will be upon us and angles like this will start being trickier.

8) The crew is out for the meet with the first southbound.  The rain is falling now and will continue until after the meet is done.

9) The first southbound turns out to be an empty coal train from the MidAmerican power plant at Fruitland, Iowa with BNSF 9017 leading.

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10) Montana Rail Link ACe 4313 second out.  I've been wanting to catch a MRL unit on one of these coal trains for some time now since this is former IMRL territory.  And now I've finally caught one while out after another unit.

11) BNSF 9231 and 6092(?) are the other two engines of the four on the front on CPKC 858.

12) The first meet.

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13) Two more ACes, 8477 and 9238, and the DPUs on the end of 858.

14) The ACe pair passes 1776.

15) As the crew gets out for the second meet, we are briefly reminded sunshine exists.

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16) KCS 4865 arrives as the sole leader on a grain train.  Note the clouds are already back.

17-18) The second meet.

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19) The grain train's DPU CP 8600 crossing the bridge over Driftwood Avenue.

20) 8600 passing 1776.

21) With the meets over, 1776 gets its train back on the move.

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22) Splitting the signals.

23) Crossing the underpass.

24) And the mid-train DPU on the bridge too.  The sign says the clearance is 10' 0''.

There were a lot out to catch 1776, including later on by AndyBrown: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,6155922.

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Well done with the CPKC Sesquicentennial unit.  Glad you caught the action at Linby Siding.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/26 05:00 by cozephyr.

Fine coverage of the CPKC 250th diesel. I liked your video coverage and the image where the train splits the signals. Thanks for sharing .