Was just watching CNN (noon pacific time) and there was a journalist in Burlington, Iowa reporting on the damage via a live feed. Right behind him was a CB&Q steam locomotive submerged in water near what seems to be active train tracks. I'm guessing this was Burlington S-4 class 4-6-4 #3003, which is displayed there. It was hard to tell since the shot was at distance, but the water was about half way up her drivers and over the pilot beam. It looked about two feet short of going into her firebox though.

The victims of the midwestern floods are in my thoughts.

If it is CB&Q S-4 class #3003, I believe it has experienced floodings in this location previously. Don, am I right on that?

Les

Les,
#3003 has had her feet wet several time since she was donated to Burlington, IA. The Santa Fe 4-8-4 in Fort Madison has suffered the same indignity several times, also.
Don C.

I've been watching the live webcam in Ft. Madison. The BNSF main line is wet right to the web of the rail, and the 4-8-4 looks like the bottom of the wheels are wet, but that's all. There's still traffic moving over it. The ex-CB&Q line beside it (headed up the river) is slightly submerged in a couple spots but only by inches.

ATSF raised the main line a lot through the park. The track is now probably five feet above the platform level of the original Ft. Madison station. The park itself is totally underwater, 2913 is just high enough on her track to be pretty much out of the worst of it.

Downtown Ft. Madison still appears to be mostly dry.

EDIT: If you've never seen this webcab, google for "Fort Madison Webcam" and give it a try. It's on the side of the Kingsley Inn, 2 stories up, overlooking the park, and can be controlled remotely.