November 9-December 13, 2009

11/9/09: New warning signs installed on

I-380 in Cedar Rapids.

 

11/10/09: The last quarter moon next to a 

communications tower near my home.

11/10/09: An eastbound UP coal train at Bertram, IA.

11/11/09: A CRANDIC crew pulling cars out of the

"N" track lead to the 900's.

11/11/09: IC 9574 north @ McCloud Place.

11/18/09: CRANDIC's Job 2 pulling 65 loaded

coal cars along the newly-finished "P" main.

11/22/09: Our Christmas tree

silouhetted in the hardwood floor.

11/23/09: GTW 4904 sits in the "A" yard with

Quaker Oats in the background.

11/23/09: UP 8071 east @ MP 86.

12/2/09: A CRANDIC crew pulls alcohol from

ADM.

12/5/09: Couple bellringers in front of the local Walmart

in Marion, IA.

12/2/09: Spellcheck anyone?

12/7/09: The kids making Christmas cookies.

12/7/09: IC 9574, longhood, northbound @ Robins, IA

after the first light snowfall.

12/7/09: Job 2 pulling over 40 coal cars to "Co-Gen"

12/7/09: got Concrete?

12/13/09: A picture-perfect shot of Prairie Creek in

SW Cedar Rapids.

More next month.

October 4, 2009-November 4, 2009

October 5, 2009 CRPE-5 passes Walford, IA on the

CRANDIC Amana line.

October 9, 2009
 a]Rock Island High Cab Caboose #17823 on display
at the Vinton Depot in Vinton, IA.

b]A Western Union sign still hangs from the
Vinton Depot in Vinton, IA on the ex-Rock Island line
now occupied by the Iowa Northern.

c]Eastbound CN train on the "rollercoaster"
west of Jesup, IA-CN Fort Dodge Sub.

October 14, 2009
a]Eastbound CBBI, MP 230.

b]Couple trees in fiery red

fall colors in the Longfellow Dst of Iowa City.

c]UP 7121 east, MP 79-Clinton Sub.

October 19, 2009
One of many beautiful trees and shrubbery showing
their true fall colors. Devonshire Drive NE,
Cedar Rapids.

October 21, 2009

a]IANR's South Job passing tall Silos in Shellsburg, IA

b]Passing by the Vinton Depot-Vinton, IA

c]Working the LaPorte City CO-OP track at the depot.

d]Beverly Yard Transfer job coming into downtown
Cedar Rapids, getting ready to back up the train into
the UP North Yard.

e]Fall colors in them there hills-NE Cedar Rapids.

October 26, 2009
The CN hosted the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
672 on its Cedar Rapids local. Here the local, Manchester-bound,
passes Robins, IA.

October 28, 2009-UP 7399 west and its partners
"elephant style" a stack train west of Bertram, IA.

November 4, 2009
a]Iowa Interstate's CRIC-4 climbs
Fairfax Hill with 143 cars plus IAIS 510 midway in DPU.
Leaders were 508, 503.

b]Iowa Northern was also in town. Here the Corn Train
crosses the Cedar River on the rebuilt CRANDIC trestle,
bound for LaPorte City and points north.

c]On the way back from the eastern end of the
Clinton Sub, I decided to get my shot of a westbound
with the Land O Lakes Feeds in Clarence, IA.
Here it is the light power that will
be used for a empty coal train in Cedar Rapids.

d]Westbound stack train rounds the mile-long turn between MP 75 & 76.

Before departure & On-The-Road-Home pics

Before departing:

A Downey Woodpecker helps itself to a feeder

that Bill and Connie set up.

This by far is my best shot of the hummingbird 

that comes around to feed off the nectar feeder.

On-The-Road-Home photos:

Field of soybeans turning colors and corn on top

of a Wisconsin hill.

Farm in the rolling hills of SW Wisconsin.

The haybarn once again on the way back this time going

southbound.

 

After passing Dubuque, we pass another scenic farm
close to Cascade, IA.

A BIG Bird, lake sunset

A BIG bird. A crane?

 

  

  

 Sun setting in the clouds on the horizon @ Lake Kegonsa.

 

On-The-Road Pics, Boat Troubles at lake--September 4th

Sacred Heart Church-Fillmore, Iowa

Yard crew working the CN Yard in Dubuque, IA

 

 Ex GTW unit sitting in the "house" track in the Dubuque CN Yard.

 

Hay barn southwest of Mineral Point, WI.

An equestrian stable near Mt. Horeb, WI.

 

 When we arrived at Lake Kegonsa, Bill and Big Papa(Ron Hagen)

were having a bit of boat trouble.

 

Bill became the boat motor while Ron rides in luxury.

Click here for video of Bill walking in his boat on Lake Kegonsa.
Listen for Julie's comment about "quiet motor".