Iowa Interstate QJ 6988 - Steam Hauled Freight Train!

[@1940limited]

Iowa Interstate is a real class act; beautiful track and ballast; nicely painted locomotives; and steam in revenue service! Amazing.

[@landonowens2500]

Doesn’t usually run freight but it was in the way. Our GPs and GEVOs get washed on every test.

[@davidschick6951]

There’s something beautiful about seeing the linkage and the drivers working together. Roll on, Iowa Bolt!

[@trainknut]

It's like going back in time. Like 12 years but still, going back in time.

[@jennifergauthier3014]

The whistle sounds amazing here 15:47

[@brianfalzon6739]

Sounds exactly like 6325.

[@raymondleggs5508]

I love the ground shake during the wheel slip when the crew man gets picked up.

[@EvilTurkeySlices]

They have tons or torque and want to go. I’ve heard driving a steam locomotive compared to arguing with a beast, it wants to run and you have to hold it back.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Love that one!

[@thomasbrown8398]

I watched this locomotive come through Grinnell and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

[@michaelbujaki2462]

9:16 People at the crossing go "Wait, what did I just see?"

[@NERRP2017]

At first I thought it was weird with the diesel at the end Then I remembered diesels on the end of steam freights during the transition era of steam to diesel

[@BalticFilms144]

The diesel initially wasn't going to be at the end, but due to 6988's radio cutting out because of a faulty dynamo, we had to use the diesel's radio. It also helped put 6988 under load when the dynamic brakes kicked in.

[@AJRailfan]

This was not filmed during the transition era

[@NERRP2017]

Ik i was making a connection to when that happend back In the 50’s

[@Handlesarestoopid]

You know what this means. 4014 will continue her old job. Hauling freight up Sherman hill

[@nutbean7794]

Nope

[@EvilTurkeySlices]

@@nutbean7794 it’s done some, but not as much as it used to nor as much as 3985 did that one them. Give it a bit though. I’m sure they’ll do something like that again.(perhaps a double head with 3985)

[@FranzFerdinandVIII]

*08:09* Best QJ whistle 👌 12.Nov.2020

[@ETrain-mv4ck]

Nice video! I never seen it haul a freight train before

[@agwrr71productions79]

I know the GP-38 on the back is for dynamic braking, but it still kind of spoils the steam freight experience.

[@thatlowesguy5544]

Love the whistle!

[@kirbyyork7669]

I’d love to hear a Southern Pacific 6 chime on the 6988.

[@raymondleggs5508]

Iowa Interstate Railroad Route of the highballing QJ's

[@TyTytheTrainGuy]

Very nice! I’m hoping to see her next year

[@BalticFilms144]

Still a very memorable week we had dude! Great hanging with ya!

[@dariusthedmirconsolidation3494]

I like the first whistle it has better than the second one

[@brianfalzon6739]

Love to hear a D&RGW 5 Chime whistle on the 6988.

[@haroldchase1881]

Lovely Locomotive

[@railanimal4380]

Great catch

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

EPIC!

[@Dakota3988-s7v]

I love this Railroad

[@ghosttrain312]

I had a thought just recently regarding 6988's sibling #7081. If it's out of service due 5o boiler inspection, why not give it the same paint job as 6988. That way they match. Aside of their numbers, they are basically twins. Just a food for thought.

[@eva.cassidy]

I kinda like the look on 7081, she's unique.

[@davidng2336]

They really need to get their other QJ running again, instead of just using one.

[@NishnaValleyRailVideos]

David Ng other one is being updated to FRA’s rules as QJ driver is on the wrong side

[@eaglewi]

@@NishnaValleyRailVideos is that a safety thing?

[@NishnaValleyRailVideos]

@@eaglewi It is as you cant read the signals as the driver is on the other side

[@StationAgentProductions]

@@NishnaValleyRailVideos There is no issue with the driver being on the left hand side. The 6988 is set up that way, as are the other two QJs and at least one of the 2-8-2s that came to America from China. The 7081 is down because it needs a 1472 day inspection and some minor repairs, not because of the engineer's placement in the cab. If all goes well, the 7081 should be back under steam within the next year or two.

[@TNS17]

IAIS’s also lets there steam pull freight. Not uncommon for IAIS to do

[@michaelbujaki2462]

I was just saying that UP should do the same. I would pay to ride a bus beside the steam engine.

[@ziggy3237]

This is a Chinese QJ Modern Built Steam Locomotive used for revenue service on Chinese and other Eastern Asian railways. It’s a powerful little number capable of pulling ore up mountains. I wonder if Iowa Interstate actually uses it for Revenue Service here in the states?

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

They do, but usually only when excursions are running and a deadhead move would be necessary. They seem to think like “hey there’s these locos we have that don’t make us money, and we’re gonna move them and not make money. Why not have them make us money?”

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

The thing that makes a QJ convenient for a short line like IAIS is it’s a big locomotive so it’s not just a PR piece, and it fits in with the railroad’s trackage. You’d be lucky to get 50 mph out of a QJ, and I’m pretty sure IAIS’ max track speed is 50.

[@ziggy3237]

@@blackbirdgaming8147 wow, makes me happy to know someone still uses steam here in America for something other than excursions like Southern 4501 or N&W 611 who just run for the heck of it.

[@FreeManFreeThought]

@@ziggy3237 There are a couple of others that have steamers that do the same. But usually in those cases it is heritage lines that move or transfer freight for some extra income as opposed to operational lines with steamers; UP of course being the giant exception.

[@ziggy3237]

@@FreeManFreeThought 😲😎 I didn't know. I'm basically a virgin in the railfan community, so I'm always happy to learn something new. Thanks! I'm sure this is common knowledge to everyone else, of course lol.

[@Rebel9668]

I wonder how hard that diesel had to push to make that steam engine think it was doing some work, lol.

[@apricotandwesternrailroad5662]

I would like to see the Iowa Interstate Railroad 2-10-2 #6988, I think it is a good looking Chinese steam locomotive.

[@Hopen111YT]

Sadly it is going an engine inspection and won't be back on the rails in a while

[@HylianPilot]

hi, is it ok if I can use 6:00 to 6:30 (or longer) for a music video of The Three QJs? I’m making rn? if not then that’s fine edit: well crap it’s shorter

[@RunninEight]

If credit is given somewhere, yes that is fine

[@braydencarden5128]

At 7:50, I live in that town!

[@andyd7728]

Is it Marengo

[@braydencarden5128]

@@andyd7728 yup

[@theiowarailfan7077]

i live 2 towns to the west of Marengo

[@phootheek1166]

are there a testing?

[@Bittern19]

Hello

[@Handlesarestoopid]

I thought that was 844

[@TheUnderscoreSeven]

I can see where you're coming from, but the two main differences between 6988 and 844 are that 6988 is a 2-10-2 with tiny drivers(because it's a Chinese design iirc) and that 844 is a 4-8-4 with 80" drivers

[@Handlesarestoopid]

@@TheUnderscoreSeven I know that 844 has 8 80 inch drivers

[@davidng2336]

Also 6988 burns coal while 844 burns oil.

[@MidwesternRailfan]

the 844 is an American-built FEF-3 steam locomotive; Iowa Interstate 6988 is a China-built QJ steam locomotive.

[@NishnaValleyRailVideos]

@Jeremy Mokry They had to as the driver was on the wrong side and also it makes it more unique as its own type of the QJ

[@LukeWatson99]

the diesel at the end ruins the authenticity

[@toddchavez8274]

How is the tractive effort split between the two locos, any idea?

[@LukeWatson99]

@@toddchavez8274 They have speedometers inside the steam trains, so for example, if there were 2 steam locomotives pulling a train, they would be constantly looking at their speedometers, and radioing to each other to make sure they're both going at the same speed. So the tractive effort is split evenly between the to engines.

[@ryano.5149]

​@@LukeWatson99 That's not quite how that works if I remember correctly. A railroader explained it to me a few years ago, but I don't know that I'll do as good a job explaining it as he did. Basically, the lead engine is doing most of the work, most of the time. (unless you are talking about diesel locomotives MU'd together, in which case they all act as one big unit) With steam, or distributed power, the main purpose of the other locomotive is to reduce the effort the lead locomotive(s) need to exert, and to manage the slack. So, you could end up with a split of power that ends up being, for example, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, or 60/40, etc, depending on the needs of the situation. Now, except in extenuating circumstances, the trailing locomotive is not really supposed to outright push the train. The slack has to be managed to where the couplers aren't being stressed, or banged around unnecessarily. They can and do break. This maneuver depends more on recognizing and managing the slack action than it is watching a speedometer specifically. A lot of the time, the helper like this could very well just be along for the ride if it isn't needed. From what I can tell, I think that is mostly the case here - as per the description, the diesel locomotive was added for switching operations at the destination, rather than specifically helping the steam locomotive. I think someone mentioned in another comment about dynamic braking - Having the extra locomotive is often advantageous for braking power as well. Now, if you want the specifics, I'm sure you can find them online somewhere. There is actually quite a bit of math that goes into figuring out how many locomotives you actually need for power and for braking for long trains. However, getting into that level of detail might not be necessary for this situation. And of course, I have to add a healthy disclaimer: if I got any of this wrong, please correct me. Though I did originally get the info first hand, it was a while ago!

[@torquetrain8963]

I would love to see all of these stupid lifted diesel pickup trucks scrapped and use all of the metal to build steam locomotives which ARE useful and haul thousands of times more tonnage. I would have loved to live in the day when steam locomotives were king of the rails and were extremely useful machines instead of these retarded pickup trucks driven by morons wasting money and trying to intimidate motorists.I am absoulutely disgusted at to what America has become. A steam locomotive should remind any intelligent person of a time when America was truly great instead of what it is today. A time before auto and big oil dismantled transit in cities and destroyed a once great passenger system taken over by the beauracratic useless amtrak . Yeah, I'm a bit steamed. I have fantasies of giant hydraulic presses crushing every single one of these jacked up pickups as well as those giant industrial shredders making mincemeat out of them and then hauling all of the scrap off by TRAIN to the smelter.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

So what are you gonna do about all the foam you just left on the floor?

[@FranzFerdinandVIII]

"...a bit steamed." Can you clarify?

[@oriontheraptor8119]

A communist engine helping to deliver the goods of democracy 😅

[@thunderbird1921]

Ex-Communist now.