Watching a 104-year-old locomotive (well, technically 3 months shy of 104) still working is, frankly, awe inspiring. As Iowa Traction Railway Company 50-Ton Steeplecab 50 was shoving a long strin... (more)

The Iowa Traction is running around Mason City on a very cold day. The crew has just grabbed 20 empties from the CP and is now heading for the AGP plant to get them switched. The crew just got don... (more)

The South St. Paul, MN, to Des Moines, IA, freight train is down to about 20 minutes to work as they pull into Mason City off the Fairmont Sub. Surprisingly, this train doesn't take the Spineline ... (more)

CPKC pretty much anywhere in Iowa is in meltdown mode in late 2023. Too much traffic, and not enough resources, is causing a lot of problems moving cars. Mason City seems to be having power issues... (more)

I have yardmastered a few times in my career, so I've seen a thing or two. This is what full yard looks like at Mason City for the CPKC. Yeah I know what you are thinking....Granted I don't see th... (more)

The Spencer, IA, to Mason City, IA, night-time local, is being pulled into town by the KM-31 crew. Here, the crew has just crossed the UP Mason City Sub at The Beartrap diamond. The crew is going ... (more)

The switchman riding on Iowa Traction Railway Company 50-Ton Steeplecab 50 hops off the moving train in the classic style, in use for over one-hundred years before "3-Point Safety Contact&quo... (more)

Iowa Traction Railway Company electric-powered 50-Ton Steeplecab locomotive 54, built in 1923 by General Electric; has just arrived and the crew has pulled down it trolley pole. IATR 54 was origi... (more)

Look closely, and you can tell if Iowa Traction Railway Company 50 is pulling or shoving these covered hoppers at the AGP elevator. Note that the trolley pole at the front of the locomotive is ra... (more)

Two of Iowa Traction Railway Company's electric-powered 50-Ton Steeplecab locomotives …

IATR 54, built in 1923 by General Electric; has just arrived and the crew has pulled down it t... (more)

Union Pacific SD40-2 1947 hauls three tank cars to the north end of the small yard in Mason City IA. Now classed as an SD40N by UP, this locomotive was built as UP SD40-2 3195 in August 1972. UP... (more)

The Iowa Traction Railway Company (reporting mark IATR) is a class III common carrier shortline railroad, operating 10.4 miles (16.7 km) of track connecting Mason City and Clear Lake, Iowa. Howev... (more)

Built by Baldwin-Westinghouse in May 1921 as Northeast Oklahoma Railroad 2, this 50-Ton Steeplecab electric locomotive was later owned by Cedar Rapids and Iowa City as their number 40. It passed ... (more)

IATR 51 and 54 sit in the yard in Mason City. The warm morning sun hits the Steeple cabs before the crews get to the power and start the day.

Early in the workday, the sun is still low but crews are hard at work moving freight on the Iowa Traction. 100 year old plus electric motors show no sign of yielding to more common shortline power... (more)