What's Iowa Interstate's stance on excursions? The reason why I ask is there are some good markets tap into since the line features Omaha/Council Bluffs, Des Moines, and Chicago. While some may not classify it as true "high iron" when compared with Class I mainlines, it certainly would be better than the 10mph branchline trackage out there. With this potential in mind and not being able to recall any recent excursions, it leads me to wonder if the Iowa Interstate could have an anti-excursion mind-set. Any information is appreciated.

Gerald W. Kopiasz

Heartland Railroad Historical Society
hrrhs@aol.com

Two of the 261's June excursions are listed as running on Iowa Interstate, the June 25 Chicago to Rock Island (includes BNSF also)and the June 27 Rock Island to Bureau, IL TR. Other than that I have no knowledge of their stand on excursions.

fitzrr@pioneer.net

> Two of the 261's June excursions are listed
> as running on Iowa Interstate, the June 25
> Chicago to Rock Island (includes BNSF
> also)and the June 27 Rock Island to Bureau,
> IL TR. Other than that I have no knowledge
> of their stand on excursions.

The only excursion on the Iowa Interstate of any distance will be the Rock Island to Bureau and return trip. The Chicago to Rock Island segment is virtually all BNSF as the routing is Chicago to Galesburg and then to Barstow, IL, all on the BNSF. West of Barstow the old CB&Q has been pulled out and the BNSF operates on the old Rock Island which is now the IAIS. More plant rationalization account less traffic than in past years. The CSX/IAIS routing between Chicago and Rock Island was dropped from consideration for the Grand Excursion early on in the planning stage for several reasons.

Don C.

http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

> What's Iowa Interstate's stance on
> excursions? The reason why I ask is there
> are some good markets tap

There are several problems with the Iowa InterstateÂ’s route near Chicago. East of Bureau it runs on CSX tracks to Joliet and from there to Blue Island on Metra. Getting the players to commit in writing and to coordinate their efforts is time consuming, even if they all agree to the trip. Yet another railroad would have to wye the train, as there is no on-line facility at Blue Island. IÂ’m not familiar with recent practice, but in the past, the lift bridge over the Illinois River was not a 24-hour operation on week-ends. This required that a bridge tender be hired at the trip operatorÂ’s expense.

Past successes by several operators not withstanding, Chicago is a tough market from which to operate trips. Advertising rates are prohibitive and advance media coverage is non-existent. The logistics and cost of deadheading equipment through the terminal can be staggering. And you better have an all-night security guard posted where the equipment sits.

The biggest problem is the condition of the IAIS track and the resulting slow speed. We probably don’t need any more “death marches.” Metra proposes to build a station at 35th Street on its Rock Island District. That’s next to the White Sox ballpark. If so, there may be a future for inbound trips – the Sox always have large blocks of tickets available.



fred_ash@bankone.com

>A correction.

The BNSF/IAIS crossing diamond at Colona, Illinois was removed during a BNSF derailment about 3 months ago. Rather than stand the expense of ordering a repalcement diamond, a connection switch was installed and IAIS trains now run on the BNSF between Colona and Rock Island, Illinois.

> The BNSF/IAIS crossing diamond at Colona,
> Illinois was removed during a BNSF
> derailment about 3 months ago. Rather than
> stand the expense of ordering a repalcement
> diamond, a connection switch was installed
> and IAIS trains now run on the BNSF between
> Colona and Rock Island, Illinois.

Jim,
The portion that I was referring to is further west in Rock Island. The CB&Q used to parallel the Rock Island through town but the old "Q" trackage was removed and rights were arranged on the ex-CRI&P/IAIS. Yes, the diamond was torn out at Colona during a derailment and IAIS now swings onto/off the "Peavine" for a short run to/from Barstow and eastern end of the old Burlington trackage towards Rock Island. Are there any plans to replace the diamond? I had heard that it was a matter of having the special work manufactured and then installed. Anyone know for sure?

Don C.


http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

Does anyone know if IAIS has any business cars? I've never seen any.

Gerald

> Jim,
> The portion that I was referring to is
> further west in Rock Island. The CB&Q
> used to parallel the Rock Island through
> town but the old "Q" trackage was
> removed and rights were arranged on the
> ex-CRI&P/IAIS. Yes, the diamond was torn
> out at Colona during a derailment and IAIS
> now swings onto/off the "Peavine"
> for a short run to/from Barstow and eastern
> end of the old Burlington trackage towards
> Rock Island. Are there any plans to replace
> the diamond? I had heard that it was a
> matter of having the special work
> manufactured and then installed. Anyone know
> for sure?

> Don C.


Heartland Railroad Historical Society
hrrhs@aol.com