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Last edited by LB&SCR E2 (talk | contribs) 18 days ago. (Update) |
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 Iowa Interstate 6988 leading an excursion train on the Iowa Interstate Railroad Council Bluffs Sub at the 88th Street crossing north of Raccoon River Drive in West Des Moines, Iowa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Iowa Interstate 6988 nicknamed "Iowa Bolt" is a China Railways QJ class 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" type steam locomotive built by the Datong Locomotive Works of China in 1985.
History edit
Construction and revenue service edit
No. 6988 was manufactured in 1985 by the Datong Locomotive Works as a QJ class 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" type steam locomotive.[1] The locomotive built for the Jining–Tongliao Railway of Inner Mongolia, China. The locomotive mainly worked around the Changchun Area on China Railways' Shenyang Bureau and operated there until the mid 1990s. In 1996, No. 6988 became among one of 120 QJ locomotives to operate on heavy freight trains through Jingpeng Pass.
By the end of 2005, Jining–Tongliao Railway had ended steam operations, which resulted 6988 being among one of the last 20 steam locomotives still working then and on December 8th, 2005, 6988 along with QJ 7030 had hauled what was to be the very last double headed steam hauled mainline freight train in China from Daban to Chabuga and back.[2]
Export edit
In 2006, following the end of steam on the Jining–Tongliao Railway, No. 6988 was moved from Daban Depot along with another four QJ’s to the Jinzhou 701 Locomotive Works near the Nanpiao District based in Liaoning, China until being purchased by Henry Posner III, the head of the Railroad Development Corporation alongside QJ 7081 specifically for special use on the Iowa Interstate Railroad on the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad mainline from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Illinois.[1][3][4][5] After being tested at Jinzhou, 6988 along with 7081 were moved to China’s Shipping Port at Dalian at Liaoning, China for shipment to the United States of America.
Excursion service edit
In September 2006, No. 6988 and 7081 made their debut in the United States. Both QJ’s were eventually used on special passenger operations along the Iowa Interstate Railroad and were also used to help fund local emergency services and during local festivals along the Iowa Interstate mainline.
In 2011, No. 6988 was "Americanized" which included the removal of the skyline casing and the locomotive being given a new brass number plate, a bell, a new headlight, and a new paint scheme.[1]
This was done prior to Train Fest being held in Rock Island that year which on the way to it 6988 and 7081 hauled a 7,200-tonne (7,200,000 kg; 7.2×109 g) freight train from Iowa City, Iowa to Rock Island.
On August 6th, 2014, the Central States Steam Preservation Association was formed by a group of volunteers who were willing to operate No. 6988 and 7081 on the Iowa Interstate Railroad and other parts on the United States of America.[5] On July 11th, 2022, No. 6988 made its final run on from Newton, Illinois to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA) shops based in Silvis, Illinois where it is currently undergoing its 1472-day overhaul at RRHMA shops based in Silvis, Illinois as of 2024.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b c Jennings, John (2012-05-29). "Take a ride on the old #6988". Newton Daily News. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Turon, Benjamin (2024-02-20). "Steam operation ends in China". Trains. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ Railfan & Railroad. Vol. 25. Carstens Publications. 2006. pp. 22, 56, 57.
- ^ Franz, Justin (2021-04-15). "Iowa Interstate Asks FRA for More Time to Run Steam Locomotive". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
- ^ a b "Volunteer group founded to operate renown steam locomotives". CSSPA. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- ^ Lettenberger, Bob (2022-06-18). "QJ makes last trips before rebuilding". Trains. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
Further reading edit
- Edgar, Gordon; Tickner, John; Freeman, Adrian (2008). China: The World's Last Steam Railway. AAPPL. ISBN 978-1-904332-80-0.
- Gibbons, Robin (2017). Locomotives of China - The QJ Class. Tynedale Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9934192-2-5.
- Jennings, Barton (2017). Iowa Interstate Railroad: History Through the Miles. TechScribes, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-9849866-7-5.