In the coming days, you will no doubt read about many serious accounts from TrainFestival 2011 at Rock Island, IL. This is not one of them. Names have been withheld to protect the innocent.


while standing on the bridge in Iowa City at the yard waiting for the QJs to leave...
cop: what are you guys doing on the bridge?
railfan: waiting for the steam train to leave
cop: does it still have the Chinese markings on it?


waiting at the Mississippi River Bridge...
person 1: is the steam train going to come straight across that bridge?
person 2: no, it's going to make a left turn in the middle and do a graceful swan dive


railfan 1: are you going out for the Rio Grande Scenic photo special?
railfan 2: No. An LS&I 2-8-0 lettered Rio Grande just doesn't do it for me
railfan 1: So, judging by the number of times you've been to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, I take it that a LS&I 2-8-0 lettered Western Maryland does do it for you?


railfan 1: how fast is that steam engine going?
railfan 2: I'm not sure, but any worries about a chase pack have been alleviated. You can't keep up with it.


railfan 1: did you see those Amtrak heritage units behind the steam engine?
railfan 2: You mean the shoeboxes? I wouldn't take a picture of those if they painted it red, white and blue
railfan 1: they did


person 1: excuse me, you are in my shot
person 2: oh, don't worry. I just want to take a picture of the steam train that's coming