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 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)

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)

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)

As the last interurban, Iowa Traction's operations are completely unique. Here, #51 crosses 19th Street to take four cars up to the CP interchange. On the back of the engine, the conductor is pull... (more)

Iowa Traction #51 sits under a starry Iowa sky, illuminated by the lights of the AGP Mason City plant. The steam and exhaust from the plant is streaking in the background in this eight second expo... (more)

Ancient Colors
Number 51 is waiting for the days work at Emery, IA along highway 106 west of Mason City, Iowa on a pleasant July morning.

The 1921 built number 51 occupies 15 Street SW as it heads for another cut of covered hoppers from the Canadian Pacific interchange.

Sometimes the shadow can be your friend. I like how the ground guy's shadow it prefect in on the ground and how the motorman is working on flipping the trolley pole for direction change in this sh... (more)

Emery is where the Iowa Traction is based with a yard and a few customers. Alot of operations happen more in Mason City around the AGP plant, so I was happy to get some rare mileage for me. The IA... (more)

An Iowa Traction electric enters the AGP corn facility to pick up cars while a truck loaded with corn waits to enter and unload its cargo.

Locomotives:
IATR 51 BLW Steeple Cab