A Day at the Iowa Traction Railway: Vintage Electric Trains

Рет қаралды 10,047

Күн бұрын

Taken on: January 8th, 2024
The Iowa Traction Railway is quite the unique little line. It's the only freight railroad in the United States to use electric power. Hosting a fleet of 4 early 20th century-era motors (the oldest of which is 60, built in 1917), the IATR owns about 10 miles of track from Mason City to Clear Lake, but only 5 miles are used, ending at Emery. IATR keeps itself busy tending to the UP and CPKC interchanges and a handful of industries packed along the track. In 2023, Iowa Traction was given the Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award, noting the upkeep of their 100+ year old locomotives. As of now, there's no plans to replace the little steeplecabs, so go catch them while you can!
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Пікірлер: 76

@AmtrakGuy365 8 ай бұрын

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): kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2bbfYqZbMl2mqs Driftless Area: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKKnZminbshsq8U Iowa Northern train busting a snowdrift: kzbin.infoEDW-uaPNc0Q

@F40M07 8 ай бұрын

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

@EastBayTransit 8 ай бұрын

I know, I can't belive it either!

@chicagolandrailroader 8 ай бұрын

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!

@albertcarello619 8 ай бұрын

@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!

@nathancorcoran5347 8 ай бұрын

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.

@molossis 8 ай бұрын

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.

@nball_gaming 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for visiting my town!

@JoeyLovesTrains 7 ай бұрын

17:07 you can tell how hard the substation is working by how dim the light gets when throttle is applied.

@redprow88 4 ай бұрын

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.

@RailPreserver2K 8 ай бұрын

I think they actually still have some vintage Interurban equipment in Storage

@DPU.proMN.IA. 8 ай бұрын

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

@erer270 8 ай бұрын

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.

@albertcarello619 8 ай бұрын

@erer270: It became a victim of the Great Depression which began around that year.

@Alex-RealApplebees 3 ай бұрын

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.

@Danominator 8 ай бұрын

Love these little engines! They have quite fun designs.

@professionalcockatoos9090 8 ай бұрын

Dude, they have Pantagraphs They are electric locomotives

@Danominator 8 ай бұрын

@@professionalcockatoos9090 I'm an idiot, they remind me of a very specific shunter lol. Corrected

@luislaplume8261 7 ай бұрын

@@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. 😊

@superjesse645 8 ай бұрын

I was expecting a museum piece running live, not antiques running proper shortline action! Amazing! Such underrated little locos, those steeplecabs. :)

@cristinacardona2981 2 ай бұрын

Yes I agree

@Duck64906 8 ай бұрын

"electric indeed electric indeed"

@FSF502 8 ай бұрын

Yep

@wavesnbikes 8 ай бұрын

"Toby, snorted"

@Wooden_rails 8 ай бұрын

"Is it electric?'

@randomtransitadventures 8 ай бұрын

nice I never knew this railroad existed

@844SteamFan 8 ай бұрын

I really gotta get up there sometime soon

@ryan_wii_sports6899 8 ай бұрын

9:10 that horn sounds sooooo familiar. It sounds like a horn used in Trainz Auran 2006.

@luisp5036 8 ай бұрын

Is a wabco aa2

@LinkHyrule12 8 ай бұрын

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

@albertcarello619 8 ай бұрын

@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.

@threepea1151 8 ай бұрын

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

@AhmearClayIombo-dj6di 8 ай бұрын

Nice Train Video

@thelastant8366 15 күн бұрын

Didn't think I'd see a video about my town, I didn't even realise these were old trains.

@albertcarello619 8 ай бұрын

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!!!

@bbgamer3340 8 ай бұрын

I've seen this train before!

@centamangila1217 8 ай бұрын

Lemme guess a #JawTooth video?

@LanternSignals 11 күн бұрын

I live in Mason City. They are super active in the morning on a Monday through Friday basis.

@OfficialSEIC2K6 8 ай бұрын

Old steeplecabs still in service on Iowa Traction Railroad. Its a unique one.

@ThatTexanCollector 8 ай бұрын

Same Horn as the Stadler FLIRT lol, great video!

@stephenbinkley 8 ай бұрын

thats so cool

@MikeLarryII788 8 ай бұрын

Cute little engines but hard workers

@SuperOwensTrainsYT 8 ай бұрын

Nice😊

@SSpecialDelivery 8 ай бұрын

Can you please do a video on septa's regional rail fleet. Please and thanks -Kel from South Philly 🦅

@jfreelan1964 8 ай бұрын

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.

@mikehawk2003 3 ай бұрын

Ditchlights are exempt for operations under 20mph and locomotives that were built before 1949.

@Templar50401 Ай бұрын

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.

@cristinacardona2981 2 ай бұрын

Cool! I will maybe see a trolley like this! It’s a cargo trolley! Not a passenger

@jessehorn6180 8 ай бұрын

I'm surprised that we're still using electric trains in our state.

@MirasomeRailfan 8 ай бұрын

The little old electric railroad

@danielferrovias 8 ай бұрын

The unlucky tug mentioned you!!!

@theblueblazer999 2 ай бұрын

These are in Mason City? Of all places? Wow.

@cryorig_transit05 9 күн бұрын

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

@captainvladmir7535 2 ай бұрын

Where do they get parts for these awesome little guys?

@Hopen111YT 5 ай бұрын

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 >:(

@joemattes8389 8 ай бұрын

I would have thought the cost of maintaining the overhead wire alone would justify dieselizing.

@ehosack.rocketlad 8 ай бұрын

From what I've read, it sounds like a stipulation of the sale to Progressive Rail included keeping it electric... rare railroad merger "W"

@mikehawk2003 3 ай бұрын

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.

@charonsferryold 19 күн бұрын

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.

@Alex-gp4kv 5 ай бұрын

he you should do a video in the Central part of Iowa like oh I don't know the IAIS?

@russelllanglois3712 8 ай бұрын

Hi,great watching these videos but did IT shut down in 22 or are they still hauling revenue freight?

@kristoffermangila 5 ай бұрын

Still hauling revenue freight.

@Baconboy2013 8 ай бұрын

Can you make a video about Baldwin shark nose, diesel locomotives?

@germansteamlocomotive 8 ай бұрын

"Is it electric?"

@wesleymoore8552 8 ай бұрын

I thought I was tweaking when I first saw this

@migjing23OCMCHS 8 ай бұрын

i wonder how much this engine can pull?

@centamangila1217 8 ай бұрын

According to many, it's around 20 cars, but on occasion can pull up to thirty.

@mikehawk2003 3 ай бұрын

They have 400HP and can pull up to 1000tons which.

@albertcarello619 8 ай бұрын

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.