Railfan Trip Reports > Another successful Acme Tour

Sunday, May 18th, a friend and I rode with an Acme Tour to a narrow gauge model meeting in the Quad Cities where we were treated to a great model RR layout. Simply excellent!!

After a breakfast at Perkins in Cedar Rapids, we headed east on highway 30. The adjacent UP tracks were very busy.

9 a.m. at the cemetery east of Lisbon an e/b 4126-2010 with 54 pigs and containers, many of where were Scheider trailers. Rare to see a four axle doing the head end chores on such a hot train.

The cemetery has an interesting gravestone marking the grave site of a woman who was a "Consort" of a Mr. Abraham, she was buried ca. 1855.

920 a.m. three miles east of Lisbon an e/b 4515-9059 with 45 empty auto racks. Caught up with this guy east of Clarence as they highballed at 65 mph. The stopped a mile west of Calamus for a crew change.

929 a.m. w/b just west of Mechanicsville with 4674-4407-4621-5067 (latter with flares) leading an estimated 100 DS wells, all DS but three.

Noted a tie gang replacing ties in the crossover switches at Mechanicsville. The right of way along the w/b main line was black with tie bundles for many, many miles.

9:45 a.m. coal train in the Lowden siding, engines 8080-7056 idled on the biz end, no crew on board.

1004 a.m. w/b a mile east of Calamus with 6493-8132 handling w/b air dump coalies with "JE" marks, but also a good string of matching cars with a large "CNW" on the side. I was not aware the CNW owned such cars.

After the narrow gauge festivities, we made a swing by the Silvis engine rebuild facilities. Dozens and dozens of engines on hand from various carriers - in various states of repair/dismantling.

We then headed back to Iowa and a tour of the ICE Nahant Yard. ICE 112 (ex Soo) switching. The engine facility area held ICE 137 (ex-Soo) and 4201, and also idling were Furry 7278, 7260, 8098, 8099, 7283, 7281 and 8115. Closer to the r/h we found ICE 6411 and inside was the ICE 109. Outside were former Soo Line engines ICE 126 & 136, along with Furry 8105-7261. There many former IMRL engines in a couple or three dead lines.

Heading home we spotted a new crew getting on the e/b coal train at Lowden. As they were making their air test - an e/b . . .

UP 6351 - NS 6793 (SD60 model -PRR per cabside) on e/b baretable train. Making high speed!!

530 p.m. at MP 41.3 west of Lowden w/b 8247-8507 on 116 CIPX/NCUX - again just smoking down the right of way trying to stay ahead of the "Chicken Train."

Soon 548 p.m. flying w/b was "Chicken Train" UP 4905-4356 handling 24 trailers and 3 bulktainers. Making a rapid pace - we were both impressed with the speed the UP seems to be moving their trains.

After the "Chicken train" cleared, the coal train started its departure from Lowden.

556 p.m. e/b coal train stopping a mile east of Clarence due to the coal train head. This train powered by GE\'s 5903-7045 with 124 CWEX coal trailing.

605 p.m. Clarence Iowa found an e/b pulling up behind the stopped coal train. Short manifest of est. 40 cars with engines 8058-9355 on the pulling end.

715 p.m. "C" Street in Cedar Rapids - e/b 75 car grain train behind UP\'s 3017-3023-2965.

720 pm "J" Street in Cedar Rapids was a highballing UP 4050 with "patched" CNW GE UP 9771 leading 36 DS, 2 single wells, one 89 ft. flat and 5 auto loads.

748 pm "J" Street Cedar Rapids e/b 4999-4607 with 65 cans and pigs on various TOFC cars/spines.

Soon, the tour bus headed back home.

Acme Tours - Where Railfanning IS Serious Business


Sounds as though your tour had an interesting day.

atsf666 wrote:

>
> Sounds as though your tour had an interesting day.
>


A good tour director is the key.

I have only been to Iowa once, but it was quite interesting! If I recall correctly, I was able to observe the CNW and ICG at the various locations I visited.

If I ever return, I will book my tour with Acme.

atsf666 wrote:

>
> If I ever return, I will book my tour with Acme.


Do so. Their fares are most reasonable. Quality for a low price.

> Do so. Their fares are most reasonable. Quality for a low
> price.

Do they have a web site or contact address?

Thanks MIKE

mmm wrote:

> > Do so. Their fares are most reasonable. Quality for a
> low
> > price.
>
> Do they have a web site or contact address?
>
> Thanks MIKE
>


Sorry, but they have neither. They have an unlisted phone number.

I hear they got the only stealth tour bus in Iowa, too. It can get super close to the mainline action and not be seen! It must have been built by that company occupying the old Oelwein shops who builds top secret gobmint vehicles ....

KevinD wrote:

>
> I hear they got the only stealth tour bus in Iowa, too. It
> can get super close to the mainline action and not be seen! It
> must have been built by that company occupying the old Oelwein
> shops who builds top secret gobmint vehicles ....
>

Do you suppose that is why the tour bus builder\'s plate has "The Mallet House" stamped on it?