Steam & Excursion > Big Boy lost in Iowa? Just kidding but hear me out...

Keep in mind I've never been ridden or fanned the former CNW main line across Iowa. I so when I looked at the excellent photo spread in the latest Trains with photos of the 4014's Midwestern Tour in July I eagerly dived into the outstanding photos, some of which I had already seen on TO, but it was a feast never-the-less.  But as I imagined the route in my mind's eye, something didn't seem right of the shot of the eastbound train leaving the UP main east of Boone on July 16.  It looked like the train was heading south!  "Ed," I thought, "Stop!  Back up.  You have to go north!"   

Well we know he made it to Minnesota, so how did he do it?  I have been tempted to ask here on TO, but I didn't want to be embarrassed.  It has been bugging me all weekend so today I finally pulled up satellite maps of ground zero and saw the answer.   He did go south to a second wye on the former Rock Island line between Kansas City and St.  Taking the north left of the wye he was headed north and passed under the UP main line Near Highway 930.  I went back over the route via satellite and found the exact locations of all the shots from there to Mason City. All is kosher.  My apologies to the gang in Waukesha for doubting you.  

I have attached a sketch of the route for any of you who are as befuddled as I am.  Cheers.

JB - Omaha



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/19 14:39 by Copy19.

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Yes. Trains from the East/West can go North/South. Trains from the North/South can go East/West.

Posted from Android

You should label KC Jct. and Chicago Jct on the map.

Best regards,

Rob L.

John; I have shots of UP freights using this route. I'll have to scan some. brc600 Tim V

Copy19 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keep in mind I've never been ridden or fanned the
> former CNW main line across Iowa. I so when I
> looked at the excellent photo spread in the
> latest Trains with photos of the 4014's
> Midwestern Tour in July I eagerly dived into the
> outstanding photos, some of which I had already
> seen on TO, but it was a feast never-the-less. 
> But as I imagined the route in my mind's eye,
> something didn't seem right of the shot of the
> eastbound train leaving the UP main east of Boone
> on July 16.  It looked like the train was heading
> south!  "Ed," I thought, "Stop!  Back up.  You
> have to go north!"   
>
> Well we know he made it to Minnesota, so how did
> he do it?  I have been tempted to ask here on TO,
> but I didn't want to be embarrassed.  It has been
> bugging me all weekend so today I finally pulled
> up satellite maps of ground zero and saw the
> answer.   He did go south to a second wye on the
> former Rock Island line between Kansas City and
> St.  Taking the north left of the wye he was
> headed north and passed under the UP main line
> Near Highway 930.  I went back over the route via
> satellite and found the exact locations of all the
> shots from there to Mason City. All is kosher. 
> My apologies to the gang in Waukesha for doubting
> you.  
>
> I have attached a sketch of the route for any of
> you who are as befuddled as I am.  Cheers.
>
> JB - Omaha

Tim:  That would be great to see some pix of that apparently seldom photographed but important junction.

John 

brc600 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> John; I have shots of UP freights using this
> route. I'll have to scan some. brc600 Tim V
 

Thanks Copy19.  I read the photo caption and wondered about the second wye but did not take the time to check an aerial photo.