Steam & Excursion > UP 3985/6936 Where will they run?

The restoration RRHMA is doing on these and other units is fantastic!
My question is in reference to future plans to see them out on a mainline somewhere "stretching thier legs" and hauling at least a small load?

Does RRHMA have an arrangement with local connecting railroads?

Is there going to be some kind of arrangement with UP?

And are they going to need PTC installed before any of that may happen? (Like UP obviously did with 4014)

Note: I may have asked similar question before here, or on RRHMA Facebook site, I don't recall any answers, plus that was awhile ago, I'm wondering if any new info may be available since then.
Plus I'm thinking others may have a similar thought?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/25 12:15 by RailRat.

RailRat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The restoration RRHMA is doing on these and other
> units is fantastic!
> My question is in reference to future plans to see
> them out on a mainline somewhere "stretching thier
> legs" and hauling at least a small load?
>
> Does RRHMA have an arrangement with local
> connecting railroads?

Yes, most likely with the Iowa Interstate RR.


> Is there going to be some kind of arrangement with
> UP?

Probably not.


> And are they going to need PTC installed before
> any of that may happen? (Like UP obviously did
> with 4014)

No. The Iowa Interstate does not have any Amtrak service, and doesn't have PTC.

I posed this same question the last time I visited the shop, the guy I talked to said most likely it will run on the Iowa Interstate railroad and will unlikely ever run on the U.P. mainline again.

If the 3985 did operate on UP rails again, it would likely be double headed together with either the UP 4014 or 844 as part of the railroads PR train. Then, it would just be part of the train.

Posted from iPhone

They will get 3985 running just about the time that some Class 1 (NS?) buys the IAIS.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They will get 3985 running just about the time
> that some Class 1 (NS?) buys the IAIS.
>
> Out 

Sounds about right.

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They will get 3985 running just about the time
> that some Class 1 (NS?) buys the IAIS.
>
> Out 

Why would ANY Class 1 want to do THAT???

That seemed like a tongue-in-cheek statement to me.

Steve

No, it's not tongue in cheek. There has been Class 1 interest in purchasing the IAIS and though
I'd love to see it remain independent I felt the same about the Iowa Northern. Time will tell. 

Out 

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No. The Iowa Interstate does not have any Amtrak
> service, and doesn't have PTC.

I would add the word "Yet" to the above statement.
I have no inside info on IAIS, but I would direct you to the Iowa Interstate Web site and click on the "News" item.
Read the December 18 post.
zr190

Here’s a link to that IAIS news story: https://iaisrr.com/proposed-chicago-to-quad-cities-passenger-service-update/

Posted from iPhone

Never gonna happen with Henry Posner still alive 

Tacky3663 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Never gonna happen with Henry Posner still alive 

So why would his railroad post the article I linked to on the company website?

Posted from iPhone

Kevin, his comment relates to mine about selling the line, not the potential for Amtrak service.

Out 

Iowa Interstate is steam friendly, excursion friendly and non PTC so unless there is some outstanding factor that comes into play, I'd say it's a no brainer.

The press release about Amtrak:  read it again and note how carefully worded it is.  All it's announcing is that the engineering projects have been approved.  Not paid for, not completed, just approved.  IAIS remains committed "once the work is completed and an agreement for reimbursement for ongoing expenses in in place."  IAIS is agreeing to run the trains but not pay for improvements and wants reimbursed for annual expenses related to the improvements. 

Guys, Amtrak on IAIS is not happening.  No one is going to pay for it.  Amtrak can't even run the system it has now anyway.

Andy

Completing the preliminary engineering which identifies the scope and estimated cost of the needed improvements and getting the approval of the railroad, IAIS in this case, is needed to pursue Federal grants to fund for final design and construction.

They may also still need approval of the BNSF for the connection west of Wyanet, the interlocking at Colona and the BNSF track in Moline and Rock Island that the IAIS operates over.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/25 21:45 by kevink.

Thank you folks for your replies, the main reason I posed my question was in response to many fans of these locomotives saying how they will love to see them back in action again.

So Is Iowa Interstate all flat or are there some good grades to see these restored locos working?
Are there turn around wyes at the ends of a run?
How long of a run might be expected on Iowa Interstate?
And so fourth....?
Please excuse my ignorance about Iowa Interstate.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/25 08:18 by RailRat.

As far as turning facilities, there is a wye at Bureau Jct. IL that has been used to turn an IAIS 2-10-2. The BNSF donated the turntable from tje Cicero Yard that is supposed to be long enough to turn both UP locomotives after it is installed at Silvis.

Posted from iPhone