Made a quick two day business trip to Iowa last week from Aurora. First day outbound stopped in Princeton, IL for lunch and ate a burger at the Amtrak station and got to see both #6 and #4 eastbound in a space of about fifteen minutes, both stopping at Princeton. Later stopped for a break in Galesburg at the Amtrak station there but only saw a coal train go past…only there less than thirty minutes. Lastly that day breezed through Ft. Madison, IA on my way to Keokuk and said “gotta stop back there on my way home tomorrow”. Keokuk was reached very late in the day so did not get to see much but did manage to go down near the Keokuk yard and saw four BNSF GP38-2 switchers but they were not working as it was late. The Keokuk Union Station is a site to behold…hope to see more of it some day I can explore, must have been beautiful and very busy back in the day it served no less than five passenger railroads until last passenger train in 1967. On the way back to Aurora following day stopped for an hour in Ft. Madison at the Amtrak station shared with BNSF yard office…lots of trains for sure as it seems to be a crew change point for both Amtrak and BNSF. Amtrak 4 stopped right on time (and I don mean exactly on the advertised, unusual for sure!!!) and changed crews before heading east. I will need to get back to this area again when I have more time!!!
If you have time go back to Ft. Madison, Stop by the old depots downtown. The old ATS&F station is home to the Lee County Historical Society. One of the regular volunteers was a long time Santa Fe employee. There are old Santa Fe artifacts at the museum. Next door is the old CB&Q station.
Follow the old CB&Q along US 34. The depots in Burlington and Ottumwa were built in the 1940’s. These among the last architectural expressions of rail passenger service faith built in a substantial manner by a private railroad to serve small cities. Both still function in the role for which they were built.
In between, Mt. Pleasant, IA’s CB&Q classic county seat brick depot is still in use.
If you keep going, check along the tracks in every county seat. Creston’s old division point brick depot has been restored by the city. It still serves Amtrak.
Is the bridge at Ft. Madison still a toll bridge with the attendant controlling the bridge for barge traffic?
Back in the 90’s I spent the night at the Super 8 in Ft Madison which was a crew change motel for BNSF crews. It was a great evening of talking with the crew members awaiting their next train.
Galesburg, Ft Madison, and Burlington and are great spots for railroading.
Ed
The highway crossing from Ft. Madison to Illinois is still toll and still the old ATS&F bridge. It has a posted weight limit for vehicles. The decking roadway decking is getting old.
I was on it in September. I was stopped for a barge, and was the only car eastbound. There was a train waiting EB also, so when I got to the east side of the Mississippi, I turned around and went real slow. Felt some serious vibrations as the train rumbled across. Lot of history in that bridge, but BNSF has to think about replacement dollars soon, probably $250 million or more.
FYI the UPRR train using there trackage rights on the BNSF Transcon also use that office to change there crews in Ft Madison [:)]