Two CNW SD40-2s on the point of a westbound freight. Taken outside Nevada, IA.

The consist (6847 and 6811) cross old HWY 30 east of Nevada

Next, they crossed the Spine Line. 6811 has an off-center logo on the cab. Wonder if this is the only one like this?

Here is a ground-level look at the consist as it approaches a side street in Nevada.

The train as it heads south for Des Moines. Hwy 30 is in the background.

Woodward, IA

Low and behold, the least-operated branchline in the state had traffic on it again!  Here's the Woodward Z train as it rounds Polk City Curve.

UPY 1324 was still in Chicago NorthWestern paint as the lead unit on the Woodward train.  Here, it crosses a dry creek bed south of Sheldahl.

Now in ex-Milwaukee Road territory, the train makes its way west on the 10mph Hiawatha mainline.  That's Slater in the background.

The very old and rusty gates at the Hwy 210 crossing protects local drivers from the Woodward local in Madrid, IA.

UPY 1324 makes its way across the impressive Woodward High Bridge over the Des Moines River valley west of Madrid.

Here the short train departs the half-mile structure.  It would have been nice to live in a time when the trains were longer than the bridge.

After dropping off the two fertilizer cars, the engine and lonely boxcar make their way back over the old Milwaukee Road bridge.