Things were extremely slow going in Des Moines when we arrived before 9AM. The only highlight was this nice CNW SD40-2 at the towers.

We heard over the radio that there would be a meet in Nevada, so we rushed up to catch the southbound at Devil's Hollow. But first, this coal train came through led by UP 6563.

Not more than five minutes later, the southbound arrived led by ex-CNW SD40-2 UP 2956. Look closely, the fourth unit is a Pennsylvania RR switch engine.

MDMDM and Maid Rites were waiting for us in Marshalltown. Here is DMsquared meeting an eastbound coal train on the west end of the yard. I was hoping the engineer would toss me out a packet of ketchup for my sandwhich.

Hmmm... Plain UP engines with empty coal cars. A westbound rounds the curve at Marshalltown.

Transglobal made up for the lack of yellow and green on the UP with this chopped CNW GP7. 4190 is hardly recognizable without its high nose.

An old familiar face was in the yard... That's right, its the patched CNW 6878! It has found my camera lense in the past three updates.

Dana Grefe would be very disappointed at all these UP engines I keep photographing. I honestly don't know what has gotten into me...

Same location, different train. Here, the MDMDM has finally departed Marshalltown, with two hours before the crew dies. Will they make it down the spine in time?

The answer: Yes! At the Euclid Ave. overpass in Des Moines, MDMSS meets MDMDM on the old FDDM&S. ADM provides a dramatic backdrop.

The light was fading quickly as we made a last stop at Short Line. Here are the the three "merger partners" posing side-by-side.