The CNW 11985 Jordan spreader makes a visit to Estherville, powered by KCS4888 and UP6860

[@sandyg9228]

Great catches and views. The KCS unit looked lost and out of place on the bleak northwest Iowa prairie.

[@NorthernIowaRail]

I seen them on the burt line clearing the way for the grain trains i chased them from Renwick to Algona not too long after a grain train ran to burt

[@ElCapitan1718]

Thank you for sharing this video. Is this the former Rock Island line?

[@MoreTrainVideos]

You're welcome! And yes, it is.

[@ElCapitan1718]

@@MoreTrainVideos I visited Estherville in the Fall of 1966. During my visit, I saw a Rock Island local performing switching moves. The local then proceeded eastward. The track wasn't in great shape, but the train was doing 20-25 mph. The Rock Island was important to the agricultural communities of northwest Iowa. I am really glad to see that the line is still active 57 years later. I always believed that had the Rock Island had rate freedom in the 60's and the ability to adjust crew size for branch operations some lines could cover their operating costs. In Texas, many communities lost their grain elevators when the railroad shut down.

[@MoreTrainVideos]

@@ElCapitan1718 Well, sadly, the track going east hasn't seen much upkeep since then and they run about 10mph now. It's still in use to Gruver where they've brought in 7 or 8 trains since late fall to ship the grain at the elevator there. Beyond there, the Rake Sub is all but abandoned to Lakota with small trees growing up in some places. In fact, the trestle at Armstrong was struck twice in a week recently by overheight loads, but the UP repaired it both times. They're hanging on to it for emergency use, but it's going to need some work to get operational again. Going west from Estherville, the line is in use to Superior to the ethanol plant. Beyond that, it's abandoned and removed to Sibley and is being turned into a recreational trail. Elevators in Spirit Lake and Montgomery have closed, but Lake Park, Harris, and Ocheyedan remain open and have to ship their grain by semi.