Illinois Central in Independence, Iowa

A favorite photo subject of mine whenever I go to Independence, Iowa is this long retired three car train. This time I tried an aperture priority at f/22 but it was this f/9 version that won the battle. The sky conditions were sunny with some haze. Since Independence was once served by the Illinois Central Railroad (a portion of the depot is in the background) and this is an Illinois Central locomotive, coal tender and caboose the following is appropriate from song composer Steve Goodman:

"...All along the southbound odyssey - the train pulls out of Kankakee
And rolls along past houses, farms, and fields..."
- The City of New Orleans

Dressing Up a Steam Locomotive in High Heel Pumps

Independence, Iowa's static display of an Illinois Central steam locomotive is a favorite spot for photographers. Late Saturday was no exception. Despite 28 F temperatures a photoshoot was underway when I reached the site after a day spent photographing barns, state parks and civil war memorials. This young model reacted to instructions from a student photographer as a mom watched from a warm truck nearby. After talking to the point-and-shoot photographer I covered the scene with several photos of the train with and without the model. In comparison a photo of a young woman model on a train offers a much higher marketing value than those images without – if I were marketing a train.

I See the Train a Comin'

Trains, old trains make fascinating photo subjects. Lighting is another matter. Fortunately these photos were clicked around 9 AM a few days ago. With a north-south orientation the old train offered interesting angles and shadows before harsh midday lighting. This front end view might be something to notice if you were crossing the tracks ahead of the moving engine. However since there is no cow catcher attached to the engine it may mean, sorry you are about to be history.

Powering this train, back in the day was steam produced by a coal fired boiler. Therefore the engine was basically a big tank of water which when boiled produced steam to move the pistons that cranked the eight wheels along the rails. As such there are plenty of hoses or lines running in and out of the tank. Makes you wonder how these giant iron horses were designed, manufactured and maintained. It took some knowledge to figure the physics and economies of railroad ownership.

This particular static, Illinois Central train consists of the engine, coal tender and a caboose. Take a close look at the metal's surface. You will find weathering, pitting and other signs of age. The historical society of Independence, Iowa maintains this train display and a former Rock Island passenger depot for kids of all ages to learn and enjoy a look at the past.

1938 Chevrolet Coupe Sells For $5,100 at Independence, Iowa Auction

Last Saturday interest was high for the sale of a 1938 Chevrolet coupe at an estate auction in Independence, Iowa. Prior to the sale various groups looked over the car for reasons of curiosity or genuine interest in ownership.

One story that an old timer told me about his 1937 version of this Chevy included somehow being able to pile 11 high school buddies into the roomy car. The secret to accomplishing that feat apparently was to get people sitting on the floor both upfront and in the back, and then double stack more chums on the bench seats.

Another guy told me about his desire to buy this car and restore it to its original specs. Minutes later another prospective buyer told me that he would restore the car, add some fat tires on the back, and paint the faded metal a deep sparkle black, plus chrome it out. He also pointed that this model does not have a radio installed. It would have been an option back in 1938. He said he would install some huge sub-woofers in the spacious trunk to play a state of the art sound system.

Until this point the vast majority of onlookers and potential bidders were male. When auction time arrived for this car the action boiled down to the traditional restorer guy and a women who arrived late. In the end she won the auction and expressed her delight with a big smile. She quickly went back inside to the estate auction so I didn't hear what her plans are for the 74 year old car. The person who lost the bidding told me afterwards that he should have stayed in the game but felt his opponent was determined to win, and he didn't want to run the price up...too high, he chuckled.

Gloomy Day in October

Gray skies and slight wind greeted the 42N team in Independence, Iowa. The five story Wapsipinicon Feed Mill built in the mid-1800s has been flooded and repaired many times near downtown Indy. New to the area is this warning sign meant to inform those who would swim around the dam. Know that.

Grand Funk Railroad Connection to Independence, Iowa

Located in 42N country is Independence, Iowa (42°28′13″N 91°53′38″), the county seat of Buchanan County. The small town prospered when the railroad was built and stopped in the community. In 1859, the first train service came to town and in 1891 the Illinois Central Railroad built a new passenger depot in Independence. In modern times, the depot has been relocated along Highway 150 on the north side of Independence with the restored building serving as the home for Buchanan County Tourism and Visitor Center.

On display behind the depot is former Grand Trunk Western Steam Locomotive #8300, restored as an Illinois Central Locomotive. The 86-year old, three car train (locomotive, coal tender and caboose) serve as the centerpiece for the depot's rail collection. The top two photos were taken today on a gray, solid overcast day. Compare those two images with the bottom photo from Randy Jenkins in 1998.

From the parkengine.railfan.net website:

"Northwestern Steel & Wire 30 (ex-Grand Trunk Western 8300): Grand Trunk Western 8300 was the first of the P-5 class 0-8-0's, built in 1923. While the other NS&W engines were re-numbered using the last two digits of their GTW numbers, no. 8300 kept the middle two, becoming no. 30. A coal burner to the end, she still has half a load of coal in her tender from her last run. Unfortunately, this has trapped moisture against the sides of the bunker, and as a result, the tender is rusted out very badly, and some of the coal has fallen through to the track. Owned by the Illinois Railway Museum, but stored in Galt, Illinois she is shown here in October, 1998...In November 2000, no. 30 was sold for display at the Buchanan County Visitor Center in Independence, Iowa." The bottom photo is courtesy of the parkengine.railfan website.

And the link to the aforementioned band? The locomotive was once a part of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad which runs through Flint, Michigan. In the late 1960s, the rock band Grand Funk Railroad was formed in Flint and derived its name from the railroad. Within three degrees we can tie to We're an American Band. Know that.