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4/26/2024
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Viewing Album:  Iowa Traction
 
By:John Schumann
Dates:12/6/2015 - 12/8/2015
Album Info:On Sunday, I used up all my railfanning luck for the foreseeable future by catching two crews working the Iowa Traction. One of the best chases I've ever had. A big shout-out to the professional railroaders on the IATR crew, thanks for putting up with me!
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Two crews on a Sunday!
Title:  Two crews on a Sunday!
Description:  On my way to Minneapolis for a job interview, I stopped by the IATR, expecting to see motors parked waiting for Monday. Not today! Two crews were working hard to put away dozens of stored hoppers on the Clear Lake end. Seems they had several inbound loads to the pipeline terminal in Clear Lake, and all these stored hoppers in the way. Here 50 is backing a string back into position.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:21:58 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  118   Comments: 1
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Got the cars back into storage position, making the joint.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:23:41 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  919   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  While the Conductor is tying down handbrakes, the Motorman is reversing poles.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:24:09 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  114   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  The Motorman has the direction reversed, and is looking back trying to spot where the Conductor is at.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:24:39 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  125   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Cold and foggy day, and the flash kept randomly going off. That reflective stuff really does work.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:25:09 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  133   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Cut is tied down, and the Conductor is pulling the pin while the Motorman notches 50 out.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:25:42 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  97   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Ready to head back to Emery.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:26:12 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  76   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Heading back to the operations base at Emery, after spotting storage cars out on the west end. I shot motor #54 coming through this location in 1989, last time I visited.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:26:43 PM
Location:  Clear Lake, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  97   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  50 is coming into Emery light to do more switching.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:27:09 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  96   Comments: 0
Eastbound light
Title:  Eastbound light
Description:  Overall shot of 50 coming into Emery. Motor 53 is also out. More on 53 later (it has a short fuse on it).
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:27:43 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab) IATR 53(Steeple Cab)
Views:  344   Comments: 0
Switching home base
Title:  Switching home base
Description:  50 is starting to switch out the new transload facility at Emery, as 60 looks on.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:28:08 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab) IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  146   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Crew is sorting out hoppers. New owners Progressive Rail opened a transload facility at Emery, handing liquids and bulk materials.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:28:41 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  104   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  50 keeps on switching, while 60 supervises.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:29:22 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab) IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  122   Comments: 0
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  Backing down the spur to the spot location.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:29:54 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  89   Comments: 1
IATR 50
Title:  IATR 50
Description:  The crew is figuring out their next switch moves, while 50 looks on.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:30:23 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 50(Steeple Cab)
Views:  100   Comments: 0
History Saved
Title:  History Saved
Description:  53 is an ancient steeplecab that was facing scrap. The Mason City & Clear Lake Electric RR Historical Society supposedly had it bought, but when they couldn't hamdle it, the Iowa Railroad Historical Society stepped up to the plate and bought #53. She has arrived on former Ft Dodge, Des Moines & Southern trackage in Boone. Kudos to the Iowa RR Historical Society for stepping up and making presevation happen, when others couldn't get it done.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 12:31:08 PM
Location:  Emery, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 53(Steeple Cab)
Views:  627   Comments: 3
Second crew
Title:  Second crew
Description:  Meanwhile, in Mason City, the second crew was waiting for the arrival of the Emery crew to swap cars and continue switching.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:17:22 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  91   Comments: 0
IATR 54
Title:  IATR 54
Description:  You get shots like this if you're standing down in a muddy ditch......
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:17:55 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  78   Comments: 0
IATR 54
Title:  IATR 54
Description:  Other crew has arrived from Emery in 50, let the switching commence.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:18:28 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  85   Comments: 0
IATR 54
Title:  IATR 54
Description:  54 is taking a pull on a long string of covered hoppers.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:18:59 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  95   Comments: 0
Changing of the pole
Title:  Changing of the pole
Description:  Time honored, and admittedly extra work, changing trolley poles to reverse direction. Although you can back-pole, you run the risk of snagging the pole and causing lots of damage. Cheap insurance is to change the pole whenever you reverse, although it leads to lots of pole changes during switch moves.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:19:32 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  107   Comments: 0
IATR 54
Title:  IATR 54
Description:  Train is together, and pulling hard heading west.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:20:02 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  88   Comments: 0
IATR 54
Title:  IATR 54
Description:  Pulling hard to clear the switch going to the UP interchange. AGP (line's biggest shipper) is in the background. Lots of steam today, foggy, 36 degrees, and really damp.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:20:40 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  104   Comments: 0
Figuring out the next switch moves
Title:  Figuring out the next switch moves
Description:  Quick conference between Motorman and Conductor to figure out the next series of switch moves.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/13/2015 1:21:18 PM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  198   Comments: 2
Taking a hard pull
Title:  Taking a hard pull
Description:  The motorman is watching the pole as he starts a hard pull on a long string of cars. 54 was groaning on this one, but she still did it. The best of Baldwin engineering from 1923. How many EMDs will still be working after 92 years?
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/17/2015 10:40:04 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  151   Comments: 0
IATR 54
Title:  IATR 54
Description:  The crew has just dropped a string of storage cars on the east end, and is coming back over the UP crossing.
Photo Date:  12/6/2015  Upload Date: 12/17/2015 10:40:26 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab)
Views:  193   Comments: 0
Monday cloudy ice fog Monday
Title:  Monday cloudy ice fog Monday
Description:  Day 2 of my IATR chase finds 60 switching REG between Emery and Mason City. Weather wasn't the best, but for a steeplecab built in 1917 and working freight in 2015 I think I'll suck it up.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:30:55 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  101   Comments: 0
Railroaders At Work
Title:  Railroaders At Work
Description:  "It never rains on the railroad", or so I was told back in my C&NW days...IATR crew is making the cut.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:31:25 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  102   Comments: 1
Pull that biodiesel, juice jack
Title:  Pull that biodiesel, juice jack
Description:  60 is pulling REG with loads.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:31:48 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  80   Comments: 0
Changing of the Pole part 2
Title:  Changing of the Pole part 2
Description:  Motorman Doug is changing poles, getting ready to shove the cut.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:32:10 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  80   Comments: 0
IATR 60
Title:  IATR 60
Description:  Backing up a cut of biodiesel tanks.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:32:35 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  86   Comments: 0
IATR 60
Title:  IATR 60
Description:  With the outbounds on a siding, 60 is heading back to finish switching REG.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:32:54 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  72   Comments: 0
IATR 60
Title:  IATR 60
Description:  Switch thrown, backing up (or coming forward, not sure which on a steeplecab).
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:33:19 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  124   Comments: 0
IATR 60
Title:  IATR 60
Description:  Working another cut of tank cars for REG. I'm starting to freeze myself.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:35:13 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  76   Comments: 0
IATR 60
Title:  IATR 60
Description:  Shoving a cut
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:35:40 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  89   Comments: 1
IATR 60
Title:  IATR 60
Description:  Heading to interchange with 7 cars. Motor 54 is behind my position and will tie onto the back of the cut to shove out to the interchange.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:36:07 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 60(Steeple Cab)
Views:  106   Comments: 0
At the UP interchange
Title:  At the UP interchange
Description:  54 and 60 are working the interchange as a UP manifest passes. 54 has backed the outbound freight onto one track while 60 has grabbed hold of inbounds.
Photo Date:  12/8/2015  Upload Date: 4/9/2016 11:36:27 AM
Location:  Mason City, IA
Author:  John Schumann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IATR 54(Steeple Cab) IATR 60(Steeple Cab) UP 8878(SD70AH)
Views:  462   Comments: 1

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