May Photos

West of Beaver, IA, CNW 6819 was leading a 112-car MCBPR along US Hwy 30.

The third unit in the consist was a CNW AC4400, #8804

The next day's CBPR had two units in CNW paint.  Unfortunately, the consist was set up all wrong, as you can tell from this photo on Kate Shelley bridge... They put a UP engine on the front this time!

Here is the multi-CNW manifest, with UP 3043 (CNW 6878 'patch job') and CNW 6858.

Two days later, CBPR had CNW 6819 on it again, and leading again!  Here is the train west of Boone.

There was no layover for the manifest in Boone on this day, and the train was given a fresh crew at the hard road.

Sunday morning, a UP business train flew through Iowa.  "Flag" scheme UP 5777 led the business train through Ames. (I would have taken E units...)

Here is the consist as it passes the Ames depot eastbound.  This train made it from Jefferson to Ames in less than a half hour!

Check out this all-CNW coil car, complete with a green CNW flat, and two CNW yellow covers!  This is the first time I've ever seen all three match.  This car was in Boone, again, on CBPR!

But enough of CBPR... How about SSDM?

CNW 6819 led this South St. Paul manifest southbound past the ADM plant in Des Moines.  Here is a 'reflection' shot as well.

Chad Crawford and I beat the train to Guthrie Ave, where we caught it again.

UP 3043, the patched CNW SD40-2, was getting ready to head up to South St. Paul when we caught it next to this Union Pacific SD45.