OPENING A RAILROAD SWING BRIDGE ON THE MISSISSIPPI WITH DRONE VIEWS! BNSF DOUBLE MAIN ACTION AND CN!

04/21/2024 Dubuque, Ia. The CN M338 has been waiting for quite awhile at the swing bridge as it waits for multiple BNSF trains to clear. This video spot was right next to the Shot Tower which has an interesting history. The BNSF had 3 trains pass before the CN got the go ahead. This video shows the M338 entering and exiting the East Dubuque tunnel. Autorack,sand, and grain trains on the BNSF.

[@kellingc]

That's a cool alignment coming over the river, through the tunnel, and curving around to join the main. Nice drone work. This was a real treat.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Chris!

[@steves2694]

FYI, shot towers were used to create ball shot by dropping molten lead or iron into water. As it fell it formed a ball shape before hitting the water and cooling.

[@kens.3729]

Swing Bridges are very Interesting and Absolutely Necessary. 👍🙏

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Sure are Ken!

[@DJ279V]

Superb drone and train action!!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks 9116 CNC!

[@walterfink9782]

Fort Madison, Iowa has a beautiful swing bridge over the Mississippi River. It carries vehicles and trains. A very busy bridge.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Yes it does. It's interesting to cross the bridge and look below you at trains👍

[@user-jf4nj3ez2k]

Davenport has the trains on the top and the vehicles on the bottom.

[@STC987]

I love watching trains from this spot in Dubuque. Always a lot of action!! It’s also a nice area along the river walk.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Yes it's a perfect hang out spot for a railfan!

[@AC44CWCTE5695]

huh.... it really isn't?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Is with a drone👍

[@tomtweed2138]

At 15:30 + the combination of bridge and tunnel is amazing, first time I've seen your video, great job, great location. TT.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks TT! That's a unique spot👍

[@pennytill5183]

Born and raised in Iowa. . Been awY many years but love what I saw. Grew up near Muscatine and I was daughter of a Milwaukee Road section fireman.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Glad you liked it Penny!

[@fallingup90]

You got all the action there. BNSF, CN and the bridge itself! Finally getting some green on the trees to.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Yep that was a one stop shop!

[@garymiller5937]

That's awesome seeing the CN entering the tunnel! I think I'd approach the bridge slowly, too. I wouldn't want to stress an old bridge like that and make it collapse with me on it!. 😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@ddh2o759]

Great video. For anyone interested, the brick building shown on the left of the tracks on the Iowa side has a great little restaurant serving wine, beer & food.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks DDH2o! Great spot to hang out👍

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Great video. I could enjoy life in a place like that. I would sit fishing and watch train and boat traffic all day.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Adriaan! Lots to do there along the river👍

[@debikawaii]

I love this!! I lived in Dubuque for two years and would watch trains from that riverwalk and from East Dubuque whenever I could year round. I made some great memories there. It's so neat to see my favorite railfanning spots from the air!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Glad I could show you a familiar spot Debi!

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Very cool video. Thanks!!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Sdougherty!

[@osut688]

Back in 1996 I worked for Sperry Rail Service. We parked the detector car in East Dubuque for the night after our day of testing. I got off the car and walked on north from our siding to the tunnel... and walked on through it... walked on out and looked at the Mississippi and the bridge. Was quite an interesting thing, a tunnel like that.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Great story osut688!

[@garymiller5937]

Your video today was absolutely spectacular! If it were up to me, you would receive an Oscar for picture of the year! I am truly amazed and impressed. Thank you very much, Red!!! You've outdone yourself. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Gary! I got lucky on all of the timing that day👍

[@garymiller5937]

The CN is one huge train, Red! I've never seen anything that long in Indiana. I think that is so cool 😎!! 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤

[@daeone1514]

Movable bridges are are one of the coolest things ever.

[@MrDhalli6500]

Very good video, really like this video, thanks for sharing it with us.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome MrD!

[@kevinsalsbury2118]

What an incredible view! Thank you for sharing.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Kevin!

[@JimTulk]

Great video as always. I love that bridge and the tunnel!!! Thanks 😊

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Jim!

[@garymiller5937]

The bridge is just amazing, Red! And to think they had that at the time it was built is something else. 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤

[@milehighkit4725]

Nice catch!!

[@roballen5670]

Absolutely Awesome Red. Keep them coming.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Rob!

[@terrygraham5901]

Pretty cool love your train 🚂😍😎🆒😘💕🚃🚂🚂🚃🚃🚃 from Indiana

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Terry!

[@timmyfrierson2684]

Hey red that’s gotta be one heck of a curve in that mountain on the CN line but anyway my friend another awesome video and some great catches today so you stay safe out there buddy and watch your back and we’ll see you on the next one

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Timmy! Definitely a strange setup there around Dubuque👍

[@davidsnider1703]

Cool. Looks like bridge wires swivel cool. Lots of great train action.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks David S!

[@trainsmachineryldegmtrains3509]

Amazing rail video, lovely captures! Thumbs Up

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks T&M!

[@michaelqualkenbush1391]

I think that river traffic has the priority over the rail traffic in regards to the swing bridge being open. I think you were correct that there wasn't going to be anymore CN traffic. Cool video of railroading I haven't seen before.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Michael Q! Yes the river traffic has priority👍

[@robinroberts3335]

Hello Red . I love this place cool tunnel 👍🏻 Great Drone Action . And the swing bridge so 👍🏻😎Robin out 👍🏻

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Hey Robin, thanks! Lots of stuff going on at that spot👍

[@robinroberts3335]

Very cool spot 👍🏻😎

[@Diegoiowatrains]

Oh yeah red nice Mississippi River and swing bridge nice train actions red in Dubuque Iowa red that bridge was moving pretty good 👍😃😃😃

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Diego!

[@honorguardsfencingclub7322]

As ol' Jaw Tooth would say, "That's purty cool!"

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks HGFC!

[@harleymemphis9190]

Great footage and fltying thank you *Happy Rails *

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Harley!

[@wildbill9919]

Great video. This bridge opens much slower than the one in Ft Madison.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Wildbill! Must be geared different.

[@anthonycollins4747]

Another great one Red. Love the bridge and tunnel shot. Great action. 🚂🚂🚂

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Anthony!

[@frankkie3849]

Nice drone shot,,makes it more interesting to see how long the trains are..😊thanks for sharing..😊

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Frank! That drone sure helps with the tunnel view👍

[@user-bb3yv8dy7q]

The property owners over the tunnel can say I've good a railroad running under my property.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

For sure Gregory!

[@paulsmith5398]

They need to make that subdivision for railfans only, birds-eye views and no drone required😔😢 😱❗

[@paulsmith5398]

The old Simon & Garfunkel song, "Like a bridge over troubled waters"...........

[@glennfoster2423]

Had a friend who referred to another bridge over troubled waters. It was a narrow bridge (roadway, not railroad) crossing an estuary in Massachusetts to Nantucket, if my memory is correct. In perfect jest, he called a song about that bridge, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" by Mary Jo and the Oldsmobiles.

[@cyrium1]

Morning from New Zealand. W0W! that's one long train! once again awesome Drone footage. DJI drone? smooth.

[@JackRisvold]

Great video love it's thank you for sharing 🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Jack!

[@armageddon1981]

Nice work, i work for BNSF and i travel that way going to LaCrosse Wisconsin there on the Aurora subdivision from Chicago Where the video began with the BNSF train going across the diamond according the the timetable is East Dubuque and East Cabin. I always have a Z train going there and back so the diamond is always clear for us.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Armageddon! Definitely an odd setup there. In the old days the CGW also used that tunnel. Had to have been a real waiting game especially once the barges got involved. Love those speedy Z trains👍

[@heybeerdan1820]

Nice catch, Red! (That short tunnel always makes me smile.)

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks HeyBeerDan!

[@kens.3729]

Stobe the Hobo used to Call that Railroad, the FNBS. R.I.P. Stobe and Shoestring. 👍🙏

[@robertdean9392]

Confused. Has Shoestring passed away?. I know Stobe passed away several years ago.

[@robertdean9392]

Did Shoestring pass away?

[@garysprandel1817]

​@robertdean9392 sadly yes. Went missing a little over a month ago and he was found a couple days later in the lake out behind his apartment.

[@hunterkiller86]

River traffic has the right of way, so when a train is not using a bridge, the operator opens the bridge to allow river traffic through. Great video

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks HK86!

[@adolphusarthuro]

One thing though - if they leave it open, and the operator's cabin is in the centre of the bridge above the pivot, how does the operator get off the bridge? 🤨 No boat that I could see there....

[@hunterkiller86]

@@adolphusarthuro I've seen small boats that get tied up to the center pier before

[@Carolb66]

Hi Red this is my favourite video of yours I've seen, it had everything! It so beautiful where you filmed & you got the bridge opening! Congrats for that. Take care see you soon! ❤😊👍

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Hey Carol, thanks! Definitely a beautiful spot for everything👍

[@Hobbytrem]

🎉 *The five-hundredth like for this video is mine.* 👍🏼

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Cristiano!

[@randyhanlon4746]

Good job, Red, pretty clever how the bridge rotates around support for cables. I wondered how they did that. Like you said, it's a busy subdivision.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Randy!

[@Bob.W.]

Very nice. Have motocycled past the CN yard in East Dubuque but wasn't aware of that bridge and tunnel. Thx.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Bob! Railfanning on the motorcycle is my favorite 👍

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Thanks Red this is one of my best spot

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Ronald!

[@georgearchambault6185]

Great video, love your comments, you crack me up sometimes!! Awesome to see that bridge opening up also.. and 4 great trains with some foreign power, NS. Thanks, pls keep it up..

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks ArchMan! Glad you like my narration😃

[@sptraxide]

Great action! I'm going back to La Plata soon to catch some action there.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Had some good timing that day! Have fun under the railfan tree in La Plata👍

[@glennoconnor2980]

That was worth the tunnel view, Red!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Glenn!

[@garymiller5937]

A good auto rack, too! 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@postalfnj]

looks like the train goes underneath the houses nice work by the way

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Christopher!

[@Afterburner2]

Another outstanding video-📽️💎👍

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Hal!

[@stevenikitas8170]

Great spot.... off the bridge and into the tunnel.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Unique for sure!

[@earlschmitt884]

I hope you don't mind that I sent this to our old railfaning friend Mr Jaw Tooth. He likes diamonds so much, I had to send it. And hoping he can see what great action can come from a drone.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

No problem Earl! It's a strange diamond and tunnel setup👍

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Nice catches!

[@BenShay]

I was hoping you would post more about the bridge. Great footage thank you for posting!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome Ben!

[@aleu650]

Very good video. To extend its lifespan, that steel jewel could be "blessed" with a coat of anti-rust paint. 😁

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Aleu650! It's made it a long time👍

[@nancyhodges444]

Cool action from the drone Red. Don’t see many RR diamonds near tunnels. Nicely done.👍🏼

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Nancy! Pretty steady action there with the BNSF.

[@davidpierce1837]

Great catch Red interestng bridge

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks David P!

[@brandonreeves5979]

That’s a nice spot to choose to shoot from there buddy!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Brandon! That's my new go to spot when in Dubuque👍

[@brandonreeves5979]

@@redsiowatrainvideos6645 you’re welcome buddy! Yeah I would favorite that one too.

[@hoosiernick]

It's probably a good thing that the people who run swing bridges are called operators and not swingers.

[@Jumpingoffthecliff]

That jeep probably belongs to the bridge tender. Thanks for the video.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

You're welcome JOTC! I'll bet you're right about the jeep.

[@edog7059]

Am loving that you included the creaks, moans, squeaks and joint clatter of where you were standing even though the drone was focused elsewhere! Puts us viewers right there with you.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Glad you liked my sound overlay edog! I'm not big on putting music to drone footage.

[@user-rd8cu2tu8e]

Nice job on catching those trains red ‘s Iowa train videos keep it up, please

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Sebastian!

[@BikerSteve59]

Love the video Red, think I might take the Harley and the drone next week and shoot a video. Hope I have as much luck as you do getting a shot with the bridge swinging open.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks BSRP! I got lucky on the timing. Hoping to catch the CPKC steam move next week👍

[@araneaetvelivolum1086]

You finally caught it opening. Good job! Impressive process and mechanics. I wonder how often they do that per day. Rail traffic is not always predictable and same for transport by ship. That dude next to you was talking a meatball to your knee 😂

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Aranea! Not a whole lot of trains over that bridge. Yeah that was an old boy who kept rambling on to me. I don't think he realized I was doing a video.

[@charleshagenbuch6078]

Well, there goes my idea for a high speed thrill ride on the swing bridge on the swing bridge 😂 It would be interesting to ride the end once. To feel and hear it.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

That would be quite the experience👍

[@patrickrancourt4782]

Uhhh yeahhhhh !!!

[@garysprandel1817]

Well it wasn't a wall of 10 or 12 maroon AB F units, 4 red GP30s or 3 SD40s and FRED has replaced a red or maroon caboose but Borg North 2 just gave us all sample of what it must have been like when the Chicago Great Western sent one of their Oelwein-Chicago mortgage lifters across the river. Pretty much due to light traffic on the line that bridge is kept open for river traffic unless a train is due across shortly. Head on over to Fort Madison if you want to get your fill of trains and tows as well as checking out the cigar store off G Street IIRC that advertises the ultimate one stop shopping alcohol tobacco and firearms on it's sign.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

I've been to Fort Madison but not with the drone yet. Definitely a busy spot👍

[@happyhome41]

Most excellent video ! The bridge is most interesting, the capture of trains going in three directions through the diamond, the tunnel, wonderful. Curious about the motive power for the CN train: it seemed to me only the front two locomotives, in Norfolk Southern livery, were pulling ?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Happy home! I noticed that too. Looked like just the NS power was on line. That was actually kind of short for the CN M338 that day.

[@happyhome41]

@@redsiowatrainvideos6645 ♥🥰

[@frankkie3849]

Drone makes it look like a ho model railroad..😊

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

I could fly higher and make it look like N scale😃

[@YehudaKatz1]

I wonder if the green truck belongs to the bridge operator - you can see it in a bunch of satellite pictures

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

I'll bet so.

[@zman_o7]

😎👍🚂

[@johnniebellamy5912]

M338 Was A Long One

[@randyharmon280]

What Drone/Camera are You running (if i may be so bold) ? it's AWESOME !!

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Randy! Dji air 2s drone and Sony ax43 camera👍

[@fredtrench5684]

Good stuff Red. Looks like a good day. Not much wind and good lighting. (Did you ride or drive?)

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Fred! Drove a cage that day.

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

A wonder what rail line n company was on that old rail bed A just spotted

[@garymiller5937]

Both of the BNSF trains were cool, Red! What's the sand on the first train used for? 😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@mackfisher4487]

Electrician's thought I wounder how the overhead electrical connections work to the center machinery

[@user-jo8hv4lp1z]

Awesome video. What is the purpose of this swing bridge? Depth of water?

[@tinindian9543]

Was that 2 different railroads at one time ,bridge/tunnel and the double track by the river ?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Yep, CN and BNSF at that location.

[@d.l.harrington4080]

Good video. always wanted to see a bridge opening or closing. If anyone know, the bridge tender stay on the bridge or is it operated remotely?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks D.L.! I believe the bridge has an operator there. They may leave at times since the train traffic is low.

[@craigzysk9666]

Nice video Red Do you think the green jeep belongs to the bridge tender?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks Craig! Most likely yes with the Jeep.

[@MuskokaWildOnes]

Nice, what type of drones that

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Thanks MWO! Dji air 2s.

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

This is a long train... is there a DPU pushing from the back?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

No DPU that day. I was surprised.

[@paulbowler2760]

I thought it was a shot tower. There is one south of Hobart, Tasmania (Australia) which is circular, not square. Is the IC swing bridge staffed continuously by a bridge operator, or only as required by river traffic?

[@glennoconnor2980]

It's known as the Julian Dubuque shot tower. Dropped molten lead from the top. The city is named for him.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

That tower was only used a couple of years for shot. They used it for fire watch at one time. Not sure if the bridge is manned all the time. Not a whole lot of train traffic on that bridge.

[@chrislaarman7532]

@@redsiowatrainvideos6645I'd assume that the swing bridge is operated remotely, like by "traffic control". In combination with the switches and signals... Drifting away(!): I was caught by the view of open railway bridges when I made a boat trip on the bayou in 1981. Here in the Netherlands (and likely across Europe), railway bridges nowadays default to being closed (meaning: open to trains) at least during time-table hours. On the other hand, the main waterways (like the river Rhine) are spanned by fixed bridges of a height that matches barges carrying four layers of sea containers. - By contrast, the Meyer wharf at Papenburg (Germany) that builds large cruise ships requires special arrangements. For short: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friesenbr%C3%BCcke.

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Along the Mississippi barges have priority. The swing bridge stays open until a train comes along. It looks like the bridge is manually controlled. That green jeep that was sitting on the tunnel side of the river was probably the operator.

[@chrislaarman7532]

@@redsiowatrainvideos6645 Yes, that's what I was considering (manually, open, jeep). But then: would he have to cross to a control panel and back - and talk to "rail traffic control" about switches, signals and ships? It would seem so much easier, cheaper and more secure to install cameras around the bridge and have one person at "rail traffic control" handle the bridge too (excluding maintenance like greasing).

[@BikerSteve59]

L570 does that end up in Gary Indiana Red?

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

It's actually the M338 that ends up in Gary. I called it the L570 by mistake!

[@paulsmith5398]

Yep!, IC 3123 GP40 upgraded to DASH 2 or 3, original number 3023. Several IC GPs in Canada still have their ORIGINAL numbers! Sent you a message about a new "horse" in my stable, i think you will get a charge when you read the message..........

[@redsiowatrainvideos6645]

Sounds good Paul! CPKC steam tour through Iowa next week. Hopefully I can catch it👍

[@paulsmith5398]

@@redsiowatrainvideos6645 well, i'm not too fond of CPKC, and the train probably wont come to Springfield, even though they have a branch to come here, because theres no way to turn it around. The new addition to my stable is CNW 8816............in HO!, with DCC & sound!

[@WaynoGur]

Can't watch. No captioning. Please consider adding captioning to the videos for the benefit of those of us in the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Thanks.

[@KandRCustomModels]

Not much to hear enjoy watching trains!

[@firewoodwizard]

unit potash train not grain.

[@edwardderr6859]

Slightly more exciting than watching paint dry.