Quad Cities Train Festival, 2011
Part II: Big Steam
Photos By Peter Limper
| A special visitor to the Train Festival was NKP Berkshire 765, which traveled to Rock Island from its home in Ft. Wayne, IN. |
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| 765 backs its consist into place and prepares for an all-day trip to Bureau, IL on Friday. |  |
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| The two Amtrak diesels, which pulled the consist from Chicago on Thursday, are both in versions of “heritage” paint schemes; one celebrates 40 years of Amtrak. |
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| The passenger cars, many in Milwaukee paint schemes, belong to Minneapolis-based Railroading Heritage of Midwest America. |
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| Also on the Friday train were a few business cars, including Caritas. |
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| On the trip to Bureau I was grateful to be in an air-conditioned coach, but my position in the train and the mainly straight track meant that there were few signs of the steam loco ahead. |
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| After the train was turned in Bureau, passengers disembarked for a box lunch. |
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| While many of us were still at lunch, the train backed up and staged a minimal run-by; I was only able to take a few pictures from a distance. |
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| After some frustrations in trying to photograph 765, I had another opportunity when it pulled one of the two hour excursions to Walcott on Sunday. |
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| The train to Walcott prepares to back out of the loading area, after which it will reverse direction to cross the Government Bridge to Iowa. |
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| The other large steam locos at the Festival were Iowa Interstate’s two Chinese built “QJ” class 2-10-2’s. | ||
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| QJ 7081 still has its original appearance, with red trim (somewhat faded), dual headlights, and some Chinese lettering. |  |
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| Sister 6988 has been Americanized with an all-black paint job, a single headlight, front bell, and a few other cosmetic changes. |  |
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| On Saturday 6988 pulled an all-day round trip to Iowa City. After missing the train at the turn-around point I happened on the run-by site on the return trip, at West Liberty, IA. |  |
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| A photo line prepares to capture the run-by, also seen from another perspective. |
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| The train backs up to reload passengers. |
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| After a boiler blow-down, the train departs for Rock Island. |
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This page was designed and is maintained by Mike Condren.
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