Steam Engine Pulls Freight Train Plus Radio Chatter

On July 5, 2019, the radio scanner picks up the Iowa Interstate dispatcher giving a warrant to the IAIS 6988 West. Just before the one minute mark, a whistle can be heard in the distance. A steam whistle. Just as the dispatcher is finishing at 3:42, smoke can be seen above the trees. The 2-10-2 QJ steam locomotive No. 6988 soon appears and goes through the Highway 21 crossing here near Carnforth, Iowa with a mixed freight train in tow. I can't remember seeing a steam engine pull a train that wasn't a passenger train before. Bringing up the end of the train is a Geep riding along.
6988 is returning to its home in Newton after spending Independence Day pulling excursions as part of Oxford's 150th anniversary celebration. The engine still has the flags that were put on it for the festivities.
As the train is going away, the defect detector the train went over before the crossing broadcasts its report twice on two different channels.
Engines:
IAIS 6988 Datong 2-10-2 Santa Fe
IAIS 707 EMD GP38-2

[@Shipwright1918]

Well, might as well put the old girl to work instead of dead-heading light engine back to the shop.
A very lucky catch, nice work.

[@arejay54]

Steam pulling freight in the 21st Century. That is pretty awesome. Great catch!

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks! I thought so too!

[@Txman1996]

Ha ha. I’ve never seen steam pull regular freight! That’s cool!

[@metra160]

Wow this is awesome!

[@TrainsOnGoPro]

Nice loud horn, and I like that classic diesel helper with black and yellow stripes. Cool Video!

[@mratsfrailfan1894]

it’s a whistle

[@TrainsOnGoPro]

@@mratsfrailfan1894 Yes Yes that's what I mean nice loud whistle

[@MikeJensen-jt9yr]

All steam is good steam and pulling freight is twoderful! Thanks for posting!

[@ATrainVideo]

You're welcome!

[@NorCoRailfan]

Great catch! Just like the old days

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks.

[@gastonforde2121]

She has the same whistle as 3751.

[@adamghimenti6988]

Cool catch

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you.

[@bmw325iscoupe]

Great catch thanks for Sharing

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you and you're welcome.

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Nice Video 🇮🇳

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks.

[@ETrain-mv4ck]

Nice catch

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you.

[@seancloyd5847]

Was this in Booneville

[@Midwesttrains21]

Nice catch

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks.