Thanks for watching! Photos of these trains can be found on my Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr (links in description). Check out my other videos from this trip! Railfanning around Iowa (Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo): ua-cam.com/video/-5xLWc7dCdI/v-deo.html Driftless Area: ua-cam.com/video/bqD55q9c9uc/v-deo.html Iowa Northern train busting a snowdrift: ua-cam.com/users/shortsEDW-uaPNc0Q
This has to be one of the most unique and overlooked industrial/shortline railroad operating in North America. Thanks for the fantastic footage of this operation!
@chicagolandrailroader: This line sure looks like it has a promising future. I think they should get 2 more electric locomotives they could maybe purchase from a trolley museum. An electric line with a bright future!
There are tons of these little electric powered railroads, but they arent connected to any mainline used by the Class I railroads, all are usually coal trains, only consist of 3 or 4 locomotives, and only go from point A to point B and back. The railroads never connect to any mainline.
@@professionalcockatoos9090Wrong. They have trolley poles and are called trolley locomotives and in my old hometown of NYC the New York Transit Museum has 2 trolley locomotives that were used by a waterfront harbor freight railroad in Brooklyn. 😊
I was expecting a museum piece running live, not antiques running proper shortline action! Amazing! Such underrated little locos, those steeplecabs. :)
Funny isn't it? I grew up around the IATR and before the freight service in downtown Mason City stopped No. 60 passed in front of what would become my childhood home.
@LinkHyrule12: I'm so disappointed that the South Shore Line discontinued electric freight operations in January 31 1981. It was always fun to see yhe Little Joe Electrics( The 800s) hauling long freight trains. With both pantsgraphs on the wires they could each haul 90 cars plus.
Yakima Valley No. 297 which is basically the same model as these steeplecabs is preserved at the Southern California Railway Museum, making runs ever so often
This railroad reminds me of the freight trains and operations on the Chicago Aurora and Elgin!!! Their freight trains were always this length. The only major difference is the Chicago Aurora and Elgin primarily used 3rd rail running except in sidings. North of NATIONAL STREET IN ELGIN it switched back to trolley wire operations and south of Hanks Avenue on the Aurora Branch it switched back to trolley wire operation. This line sure brings back memories of the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Electric Interurban!!!
I shot this little rr about a decade ago. Before the Seed oil processor came online. When it was still in private ownership. I’m surprised they haven’t been required to install ditch lites. They definitely have more business than when I was there. More variety. Could also be the time of year.
Man it sure would be great if anything in mason city did fricking anything in the 20 hours I’ve spent waiting in the area for something to happen in the past 7 months >:(
@@mikehawk2003 True and the poles are electric company poles (well the one with top wires). They maintain the poles in exchange for being on RR ROW. Buying diesel would cost many times over the what is spent month in electricity.
Crazy how the past decade of American railroading has been littered with companies saying they're working towards cleaner motive power, yet still the only electric locomotives pulling interchange freight in the country are on this plucky shortline.
It's too bad the Chicago Aurora and Elgin isn't here as a freight carrier like this line is and would probably be serving many more industries today than it did back in the 1950s.
Thanks for watching! Photos of these trains can be found on my Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr (links in description). Check out my other videos from this trip!
Railfanning around Iowa (Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo): ua-cam.com/video/-5xLWc7dCdI/v-deo.html
Driftless Area: ua-cam.com/video/bqD55q9c9uc/v-deo.html
Iowa Northern train busting a snowdrift: ua-cam.com/users/shortsEDW-uaPNc0Q
No problem😊
The fact that these are still in REVENUE FREIGHT SERVICE and not just museum pieces pulling some freight cars around is what makes this more amazing
I know, I can't belive it either!
17:07 you can tell how hard the substation is working by how dim the light gets when throttle is applied.
This has to be one of the most unique and overlooked industrial/shortline railroad operating in North America. Thanks for the fantastic footage of this operation!
@chicagolandrailroader: This line sure looks like it has a promising future. I think they should get 2 more electric locomotives they could maybe purchase from a trolley museum. An electric line with a bright future!
It’s a cool little electric railroad system here. Also to let you know there is another electric freight railroad called the Deseret Power Railroad.
There are tons of these little electric powered railroads, but they arent connected to any mainline used by the Class I railroads, all are usually coal trains, only consist of 3 or 4 locomotives, and only go from point A to point B and back. The railroads never connect to any mainline.
Thanks for visiting my town!
Love these little engines! They have quite fun designs.
Dude, they have Pantagraphs
They are electric locomotives
@@professionalcockatoos9090 I'm an idiot, they remind me of a very specific shunter lol. Corrected
@@professionalcockatoos9090Wrong. They have trolley poles and are called trolley locomotives and in my old hometown of NYC the New York Transit Museum has 2 trolley locomotives that were used by a waterfront harbor freight railroad in Brooklyn. 😊
I think they actually still have some vintage Interurban equipment in Storage
Awesome getting to see IATR 50 (former W&OD 50). Kind of amazing that a 100+yr old train is still getting the job done.
You know I live around these they've been around for a L O N G TIME they're still going to strong metal trolley lines doing pretty good
I was expecting a museum piece running live, not antiques running proper shortline action! Amazing! Such underrated little locos, those steeplecabs. :)
Yes I agree
9:10 that horn sounds sooooo familiar. It sounds like a horn used in Trainz Auran 2006.
Is a wabco aa2
Iowa Traction Railway number 60 used to go in front of my house on Youngstown And Ohio River RR. Until, the railroad closed in 1931.
@erer270: It became a victim of the Great Depression which began around that year.
Funny isn't it? I grew up around the IATR and before the freight service in downtown Mason City stopped No. 60 passed in front of what would become my childhood home.
"electric indeed electric indeed"
Yep
"Toby, snorted"
"Is it electric?'
I really gotta get up there sometime soon
nice I never knew this railroad existed
I heard tale of PGR sending down diesels to help supplement, but happy to see that they haven't done so and that the steeples are still running
@LinkHyrule12: I'm so disappointed that the South Shore Line discontinued electric freight operations in January 31 1981. It was always fun to see yhe Little Joe Electrics( The 800s) hauling long freight trains. With both pantsgraphs on the wires they could each haul 90 cars plus.
Nice Train Video
Yakima Valley No. 297 which is basically the same model as these steeplecabs is preserved at the Southern California Railway Museum, making runs ever so often
This railroad reminds me of the freight trains and operations on the Chicago Aurora and Elgin!!! Their freight trains were always this length. The only major difference is the Chicago Aurora and Elgin primarily used 3rd rail running except in sidings. North of NATIONAL STREET IN ELGIN it switched back to trolley wire operations and south of Hanks Avenue on the Aurora Branch it switched back to trolley wire operation. This line sure brings back memories of the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Electric Interurban!!!
I've seen this train before!
Lemme guess a #JawTooth video?
Same Horn as the Stadler FLIRT lol, great video!
I live in Mason City. They are super active in the morning on a Monday through Friday basis.
thats so cool
Didn't think I'd see a video about my town, I didn't even realise these were old trains.
It's interesting that an electric locomotive from the 50s is still in revenue service ❤
Even older than that, as their newest locomotive dates back to 1923!
54 was 23' yeah. Oldest in the current fleet is #60, built 1917
Old steeplecabs still in service on Iowa Traction Railroad. Its a unique one.
Nice😊
Can you please do a video on septa's regional rail fleet. Please and thanks
-Kel from South Philly 🦅
This line is on my street in Mason City. 19th street se. I am at the east terminus that doesn't get as much use.
I shot this little rr about a decade ago. Before the Seed oil processor came online. When it was still in private ownership. I’m surprised they haven’t been required to install ditch lites. They definitely have more business than when I was there. More variety. Could also be the time of year.
Ditchlights are exempt for operations under 20mph and locomotives that were built before 1949.
Where do they get parts for these awesome little guys?
I'm surprised that we're still using electric trains in our state.
The IATR might be the last ever standing fully electric freight line, and it's sad. I see abandoned PRR catenary poles all over the Northeast
Cool! I will maybe see a trolley like this!
It’s a cargo trolley! Not a passenger
Cute little engines but hard workers
Man it sure would be great if anything in mason city did fricking anything in the 20 hours I’ve spent waiting in the area for something to happen in the past 7 months
>:(
These are in Mason City? Of all places? Wow.
regarding the steeple cab locos,,, why should i repair something that isnt broken.?
The unlucky tug mentioned you!!!
I would have thought the cost of maintaining the overhead wire alone would justify dieselizing.
From what I've read, it sounds like a stipulation of the sale to Progressive Rail included keeping it electric... rare railroad merger "W"
They are only paying a utility company for the power (just 600 Volts DC). Maintenance does not need to be performed often on the wire.
@@mikehawk2003 True and the poles are electric company poles (well the one with top wires). They maintain the poles in exchange for being on RR ROW. Buying diesel would cost many times over the what is spent month in electricity.
he you should do a video in the Central part of Iowa like oh I don't know the IAIS?
i wonder how much this engine can pull?
According to many, it's around 20 cars, but on occasion can pull up to thirty.
They have 400HP and can pull up to 1000tons which.
Crazy how the past decade of American railroading has been littered with companies saying they're working towards cleaner motive power, yet still the only electric locomotives pulling interchange freight in the country are on this plucky shortline.
Can you make a video about Baldwin shark nose, diesel locomotives?
Hi,great watching these videos but did IT shut down in 22 or are they still hauling revenue freight?
Still hauling revenue freight.
It's too bad the Chicago Aurora and Elgin isn't here as a freight carrier like this line is and would probably be serving many more industries today than it did back in the 1950s.
I thought I was tweaking when I first saw this
"Is it electric?"
Vintage electricity
Jaw Tooth had railfanned this railway twice.
Aren't all railroads [0] traction railroads? What's the alternative, rocket propulsion? Airscrew?
[0] railroads, not "rare-roads".
I seen this on @coasterfans2105’s UA-cam video called Electric trains galore