IAIS 6988 and 7081 steam through Walcott, on the home stretch into Rock Island. I'm not sure what the guys were doing on the tenders, but I suspect that they were just trying to cool down. The t... (more)

IAIS 6988 and 7081 thunder past the old Rock Island depot in the sleepy little town of Wilton, Iowa (note the "Welcome to Wilton" sign, complete with steam engine).

IAIS 6988 and 7081 steam across the old Rock Island bridge spanning the Cedar River at Moscow, Iowa on the doubleheaded move to Train Festival.

Despite the lack of smoke, IAIS 6988 and 7081 are really working hard as they rattle the metal buildings at tiny Downey, Iowa on their way to Train Festival.

The Walcott excursion gets a run on the hill climbing out of Davenport at old Missouri Division Jct. (from Rock days), where the Council Bluffs main and Golden State main split. In the old days t... (more)

Sporting her new "Americanized" look, Iowa Interstate's QJ #6988 leads the Iowa City excursion east.

Sporting her new "Americanized" look, Iowa Interstate's QJ #6988 leads the Iowa City excursion east.

The first day of the IAIS QJ move to Train Festival 2011 finds 6988 leading 7081 at South Amana, headed for the wye at Yokum Junction for a meet with a westbound IAIS freight. The consist on this... (more)

The QJ-led Walcott excursion crosses into Iowa from Illinois as seen from Tar Beach.

With Train Festival 2011 just ended, an Iowa Interstate Railroad steam volunteer takes a drink in front no. 7081 in between night hostling duties in Rock Island. In the background is the Centennia... (more)

Iowa Interstate Railroad steam locomotive no. 6988 waits in the Rock Island yard while sister engine no. 7081 clears the track ahead during Train Festival 2011.

Iowa Interstate Railroad's Chinese-built QJ steam locomotive no. 6988 moves through the yard prior to an excursion at Train Festival 2011.

IAIS puts the QJ's to work enroute to Train Fest, pulling over 7,000 tons of freight in 55 loads to set a new world record for revenue tonnage pulled by steam in the 21st Century.

Relics along the old Rock Island frame the Iowa City excursion led by a QJ returning to Train Fest.

QJ 6988 leads the procession of the two QJ's and commuter cars as they head for Iowa City in preparation for the upcoming Train Festival in Rock Island.