Nostalgia & History > CRANDIC

Last summer NRHS held their annual convention at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We did the convention DVD with each chapter focusing on one of the daily trips. Here are some scenes from the Cedar Rapids - Iowa City excursion on the CRANDIC.

The original CRANDIC interurban line linked Cedar Rapids and Iowa City with fast electric passenger and freight service starting in 1904. Passenger service ended in 1953, the same year the railroad switched to diesel. The modern CRANDIC has grown with the addition of some former Rock Island and Milwaukee Road lines, and with freight volume increasing over the years.

The NRHS move toward Iowa City featured 122 and slug 125 in charge. Note the rolling profile beyond the crossing at Wright Brothers Boulevard near the airport. A few pacing shots follow.

The passenger equipment was used on all of the mainline convention trips, but powered by a variety of diesels on each excursion. Iowa Interstate QJ 6988 also pulled major portions of two trips.

The convention also featured full day events at the Midwest Threshers in Mt. Pleasant and at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in Boone, IA.

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

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Any video with Milwaukee Road passenger cars in it is good stuff. Thank you for posting.

Thanks. Very interesting to me since I have no idea what that motor is behind the lead what appears to be a switcher type engine. The passenger cars are led by what looks to be a cab control car. Is that first passenger car motorized?. What do they call that flat top motor behind the lead unit. Never seen one in my life. I am not that familiar with engine power and not at all with MR or CR equipment. Thanks again for a great video especially the sound of the engines complete the picture nicely.

Phil Blommendahl
Getzville, NY

I believe that the unit behind the lead unit is a slug--no prime mover and taking power from the lead unit to power its traction motors.

Marty Harrison
Knob Noster, MO

The second unit is a slug. Here's a link to more information about slugs - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug_(railroad)

The passenger car is the famous Milwaukee Road "Cedar Rapids" now owned by the Friends of the 261 - http://www.261.com. This car is used often for charters, special trips, and of course will be riding behind Milwaukee Road 261 next Spring!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com