Railfan Trip Reports > Traveling with Acme Tours

Thursday afternoon, May 15th, Acme Tours had a vacancy on their mini-tour. We were soon treated to a s/b IANR train crossing under hiway 3 just north of Shell Rock, Iowa. Three multi-colored ex-CSX now LLPX GP38-types clicking right along on the rehabbed track - had approximately 30 grain loads in tow.

In Hampton, Iowa, the abandoned M&StL Yard has big stacks of ties. Most have been bundled and are undoubtedly headed for reuse elsewhere. There is also a large pile of scrap ties on hand.

A check of the UPRR Spine Line siding adjacent to the Franklin County Fairgrounds found several flats with steel loads fabricated for the Alliant Energy generating plant near Mason City. QTTX 131388, 131361, 131391 have double trucks on each end or a total of 16 wheels per flat. KRL 127001 and KRL 127002 have triple trucks connected by a span bolster, or 24 wheels per car.

The tour bus headed north to Chapin, Iowa, via the county blacktop connecting that hamlet with its Franklin County capital of Hampton. A check of the recently installed tracks at the Chapin grain complex foun the siding and the former M&StL mainline to be reballasted. The siding looks good for 50 mph with its welded rail, deep ballast, and each tie have rail anchors on both sides of the tie.

The Chapin grain elevator continues work on the grain conveyor system. It appeared they were in the process of conducting tests as workmen were noted at various points on the supporting steel work. 100 car grain trains ought to be loading in the near future.

A ballast regulator was tied up on the new track, and the contractor had a dump truck with hi rail gear. It appears that a road crossing was finished in the past few days, and that work on the new track, etc., should be as good as finished.

A check of Sheffield, Iowa, revealed the removal of the highway flashers on the former M&StL mainline/Main Street crossing. The rail remains.

At 520 pm a s/b was standing at Sheffield\'s north switch. At 540 p.m. they headed into the siding with engines 2996-3056 (sporting "We Will Deliver") - 6338 (in need of a paint job) doing the pulling work, with 2239 (has "wings") and 918 (both dit) trailing. Noted 4 cars of cement on the head end of the 94 car train which I presume was headed for an Iowa Falls set out. While waiting for this train, I noted a dead deer trackside - wounds indicated it was the victim of a UP pilot/plow.

At 603 p.m. n/b UP 6469 - SP 299 came into town at a crawl with 112 NSPX 94,000/95,000 series coal loads in tow. By 6:12 p.m. both trains were departing Sheffield.

As the bus departed Sheffield, the Spine DS was heard talking with the s/b regarding LLPX 2252 which was evidently working down around Iowa Falls. They would be getting in the clear soon and the disp. would extend the s/b\'s warrant.

Heading north toward the economic center of Cerro Gordo County, the tour bus suddenly swung to the west for a look at Hurley siding, which is located about 1.5 miles west of US 65 on county 170th Street. 170th Street is a mile north of the north edge of Rockwell. The contractor has installed a large device over the siding for unloading flat cars. Two empties and one load on hand. One was another KRL 127004 with six trucks. Load limit of 495,000 lbs and lt. wt. 165,000 lbs. A metal plate indicated the car was built by Kasgro Rail Corp of New Castle PA, and the plate also read "Tri Truck Span Bolster" pat. 5802981. Plate C car with hand brakes on each end, built Sept. 2001. The side of the car also has the slogan "Red and Ready."

A 7 p.m. check of the Mason City ICE yard showed the rip tracks full of bad order grain hoppers. Nine SD40-types on hand including Furry creatures 7933, 7236, 7209, 7214, 7218, 8114, and 7924. Also KCS 677 and KCS 642 at the e/f. Switch job working.

Over across town at the UP\'s West Yard I was treated to a sign at 15th Street reading "Welcome - Drive Safely, Think Safety." Nice touch for the railfan visitor!! The Yard had the UP 373 - LLPX 2254 coupled to a cut of cars. The yard was nearly empty. Appeared to be several clear tracks. The radio chatter revealed another switch job working - probably over at the cement plants.

At 715 p.m. the NSPX coal train released their warrant and the disp told the crew "get your rest, we have four s/b\'s coming."

In the vicinity of the planned 12th St. NW viaduct, the police have placed "No Parking" signs. Can we assume that construction will begin in a few days?

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