Eastbound Union Pacific Lines in Central Iowa

The main East - West lines for the Union Pacific railroad runs right through Iowa. Along these tracks have been many, many tons of coal, new automobiles and even the two 200 inch blanks for the Mount Palomar Hale telescope direct from the Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York. Yes, two blanks. The first one delivered developed a crack in the lens and needed to be replaced. It is or was on display at Corning's museum.

Long Line of Union Pacific Locomotives

A peek through Marshalltown, Iowa's Center Street viaduct fence reveals a very long line of Union Pacific locomotives. For years locomotives have been maintained in this yard - even before the Lincoln Highway passed through. And for years residents have been waiting for trains to pass at railroad crossings throughout the city. In the mid-1990s the city rerouted some streets to utilize a new bridge across these tracks. Last year an abandoned line which entered the city from the northwest was removed and a bike trail may take its place. This stretch of linked locomotives may be a way to transport the engines to their next destination but I don't know for sure. Hopefully a knowledgeable reader can explain what this train chain is all about.

Wyoming Coal Delivery Via the Union Pacific

The lights came on, the bell started ringing and the gates came down. Traffic stopped at the UP crossing in SE Cedar Rapids to let a fast moving train zip on by. Locomotive 6053 moved pretty quickly from the west pulling several cars filled with coal, that is most likely from the Gillette, Wyoming area mines.

One of the highlights of this fast mover was the cloud of snow that was kicked up by the moving train. The effect produced a small snowstorm in the immediate area as the powder snow settled nearby after the train past.

At the end of the train, where the traditional caboose would have been was an unexpected surprise. A pusher locomotive occupied the last position giving the train a bit more oomph to move that coal. Commonplace? Maybe, but its interesting to see how the nation's infrastructure works on the rails - in the winter - with a load of coal - moving fast.

Wyoming Coal Headed East on Union Pacific Rails

Union Pacific's 6784 locomotive idles near downtown Grand Mound, Iowa. I noticed a video camera near the center support of the windshield pointed in the direction of the engine's movement. As far as the eye can see the entire train consisted of coal filled cars. Photographically an impressive point is how the train drapes over the small rise to the west, exposing the car's contents. In Omaha, corporate UP is considering adding a third line. For now the shiny rails haul freight.

Union Pacific 8044 Passes Through Mount Vernon, Iowa

Union Pacific Railroad's locomotive 8044 rolls eastward through Mount Vernon, Iowa a few weeks ago. From top of the original Lincoln Highway bridge, which is now restricted to pedestrians only, you can get close to rail traffic complete with an aerial perspective. On this day 8044 pulled metal ingots, scrap, tankers, and a lot more. On again/off again talk of adding a third line to accommodate additional freight traffic continues.

Smooth Union Pacific Rail at Mount Vernon, Iowa

Two tracks from the Union Pacific Railroad come through Iowa from the Mississippi to the Missouri Rivers. This closeup of the one rail shows the granite rock ballast (roadbed,) ties, fastener plates and spikes. Recently I read where railroads used thermite welding beginning in the 1930s to join sections of rail together, then polished the join level for that smooth ride which also eliminated some of the clickety-clack sounds. The things you learn.

Union Pacific's Steamy Summer Rails

It is summer - no doubt about that. Last evening a powerful thunderstorm flared up over 42N land, dumping much needed rain and producing winds at up to 65 mph. Today, like yesterday, is again hot and very humid. How hot is it you ask? Hot enough for the air above the steel rails of the Union Pacific railroad at Lisbon, Iowa to produce mirages of wavy lines. Look for yourself. The only photo manipulation to this image is color correction and cropping.

Riding on the City of Los Angeles

Located in the 42N's central part of the hawkeye state (Iowa) is the Boone and Scenic Valley rail line found at 42.04°N, 93.89°W. Behind a restored locomotive is the streamliner passenger car, the City of Los Angeles. The car was placed into service during 1936 on the Union Pacific line. Today you can take a ride on the car periodically. 

While this passenger train won't be gone five hundred miles when the day is done, it is something that you can walk through, ride occasionally, and just guess how it felt to commute from coast to coast a half a century ago on the rails. Know that.

Tracks Under the Lincoln Highway

Two Union Pacific tracks reach towards the west in 42N country in this snowy scene taken last week. Passing overhead is modern portion of the Lincoln Highway as it winds through Linn County, Iowa. The bridge from which this photo was taken is actually the original Lincoln Highway bridge built in 1915 in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.

Not far from this spot is the seedling mile experiment site (just a few miles west of this location) where the benefits of a concrete highway were first demonstrated in Iowa on this highway. Up until this time the dirt roads were the norm and axle deep clay mud thwarted Model Ts as they tried their luck navigating the early highway road.

My high school French teacher once explained how some regional transportation paths developed. First the paths along waterways (rivers, creeks, streams) which were created by animal trails or local natives were discovered. Sometimes wagon trails widened these paths, then rail service was built along these paths - often with teletype wires overhead. Finally auto roads were built nearby, distances shortened and modifications were made.

This is why along some of the older roads in the country, such as pikes and former tollways you can see this pattern applied.

Union Pacific Y705 at the Marshalltown Yard

A central fixture of Marshalltown, Iowa (a 42N city) is the huge marshalling yard with train maintenance shops located extremely close to the city's center. Who from the Marshall County seat has not gotten "trained" at one of the many RR crossings that divide the town north and south? The yard has been around for a long time and is still quite active in engine repair and maintenance. As a favorite spot for photographers there are two bridges that span the yard making for some potentially dramatic images of the trains below. One this day the Union Pacific Y705 locomotive's proximity to the Marshalltown water tower made the association between city and rail yard even more closer. Know that.