In the first of two encores before her boiler certification expires later this year, Iowa Interstate "QJ" 6988 ventured out from her home at the shops in Newton Iowa to pull a weekend's worth of trips benefiting local fire departments, firstly in Oxford Iowa on August 21st, then again in Wilton IA on the 22nd. Not ones to miss such a grand steam show as this, my friends and I made the trek west to spend a fleeting three days with the "Iowa Bolt". Starting on Friday the 20th, you'll see the ferry move from Newton, as the "Santa Fe Type" hauls her support cars, 11 tankers, and GP38-2 No.707 to South Amana to meet up with the excursion equipment. Once freight has been swapped for passenger, hold on, as you'll bear witness to this 2-10-2 in her natural element: thundering along the ex-CRI&P, putting on a show for the local crowds with running starts, fully displaying the brand of magic that only a steam locomotive can. You'll also see the ferry moves to Oxford and Wilton respectively, shooting at such name locations as Homestead, Kent Park, Tiffen, and the Cedar River Bridge at Moscow. Enjoy Everybody! There is plenty more to come! Chapters Intro: 00:00-00:58 Ferry Freight: 00:58-19:50 Oxford Trips: 19:50-45:14 Wilton Trips: 45:14-01:03:36 #6988 #iais #steamlocomotive

After a disappointing, steamless, 2020, Iowa Interstate's QJ 2-10-2 steam locomotive (6988) runs the rails again this year. The day is August 21, 2021, and the railroad/steam crew will run a total of 5 passenger excursions out of Oxford, Iowa. Each excursion will stop in Coralville, Iowa, where the diesel (IAIS 700, EMD GP38-2) will pull the train back to Oxford.

The Iowa Interstate QJ #6988 pulled a freight train from the shops in Newton to South Amana this morning. Over this weekend, the 6988 will be operating a few passenger excursions heading out of South Amana. 0:54 Whistle, Bell & Horn Test 1:45 #6988 by the engine shops in Newtown 6:40 Kellogg 7:50 Grinnell Depot 9:44 Brooklyn 11:50 Victor 12:31 West of Marengo passing by the trestle Recorded with a Panasonic HC-X1000 in Cinema 4K.

7/5/2019 - After a successful round of excursions out of Oxford, IA on the 4th of July, Iowa Interstate 2-10-2 "QJ" steam locomotive #6988 was to deadhead back to Newton from South Amana the next morning. With the excursion coaches being left behind, the 6988 would haul 16 revenue freight cars from SA to Newton! Still sporting the American Flags from the previous day along with the GTW 6 Chime whistle, 6988 put on a show pulling revenue freight! Enjoy the chase from South Amana to Grinnell! (The diesel was added to ease the switching process at Newton) Time-stamps: (0:02) - After morning servicing, 6988 pulls out onto the main at South Amana, IA to utilize the nearby Yocum Wye (1:58) - 6988 rolls to the west end of the South Amana and connects to the freight train (5:01) - IAIS 6988 West departs South Amana (7:50) - Racing through Marengo, IA (8:58) - Slowing to a stop at Brooklyn, IA to crew change (12:44) - Rolling through Grinnell, IA stopping briefly to pick up a crew member Instragram - https://www.instagram.com/jnarup24/ Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcnarup513/ Discord: https://discord.gg/bwk6N8c

Iowa Interstate's 2-10-2 Chinese QJ type Steam Engines #6988 and 7081 are seen double heading revenue road frieght ICRI (Iowa City, IA to Rock Island, IL) across easern Iowa. If memory serves... the freight was nearly 70 cars and almost all loaded, making for a near record breaking event on this hot summer day in 2008. The first roll-by is in West Liberty past the restored Rock Island Depot, the fog had just cleared enough for the rich morning sun to filter through. The second roll-by is of the pair of steamers chuffing it out over the Cedar River bridge in Moscow, IA, and finally, the ICRI is seen departing Walcott, IA after taking on water, and meeting westbound IAIS road train BICB (Blue Island, IL to Council Bluffs, IA). I hope you all enjoyed the video and please remember to check out the rest and subscribe!! Filmed on October 18, 2008 Copyright CLastoProductions - Chris Lastovich 2013

Watch the complete program on YouTube by clicking here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErcaaGOks3I Preview of my video, "QJ 7081: Summertime Excursions on the Iowa Interstate". The entire video is now up on my YouTube page, by clicking on the link above. I originally put this out exclusively on DVD/Blu-ray in 2014. Be sure to subscribe to my channel for more train videos like this! http://www.youtube.com/everywherewest Copyright © 2014-2015 Bobby Harvey. All Rights Reserved.