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A new venture from an existing group called Iowa Pacific Holdings.
They operate a number of shortline railroads around the country and in a few cases they operate tourist trains. One in upstate New York, another out of Alamosa, CO among others.
In this case they're looking to haul a classic dome car coupled behind existing Amtrak trains from Chicago to Quincey, IL, Milwaukee, and Springfield, IL.
Built for ATSF 1955 by Budd; thence Auto Train, Alaska Rail Tours, Rio Grande Scenic (IP property), now Iowa Pacific.
Oh well, I guess I'll see the Hannibal trip on June 9 when 381(9) passes the Coffee House and its "tables with a view'. Since I've never had occasion to ride GBB-QCY, I should be "ga-ga" to take that ride. But I have tentatively scheduled a trip to Indy and "Day at the Races' with my friends there for the Belmont (postponed from the Preakness). "Day at the Races' with long standing friends wins out over a ride in a Dome Car that really does not offer much in the way of viewing (oh and sorry 850-851, Red Lex and I-65 are more the preferred transport to Indy - especially considering "double lodging" down there and sitting around most of Saturday with nothing to do but stare at four hotel walls and the Sunday return scheduled to leave too early even for me).
palmland Member # 4344
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Interesting. I had a walk through of the car in LaVeta, CO several years ago. It was very nice, but I preferred the coach converted to open platform observation/parlor/lounge they started with on their Rio Grande Scenic train. Wonder if it will now be back in service since this went to Illinois.
It is amazing that out of nowhere, Iowa Pacific seems to be dabbling in many passenger rail operations - excursions and otherwise. The big question - will they last or be another shooting star?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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An F-80, Mr. Palmland.
notelvis Member # 3071
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One of the more interesting IP operations is a passenger train from Alamosa, CO to Antonito, CO where it connects with the narrow gauge steam trains of the Cumbres & Toltec.
This train is often a single diesel, one Big Dome, and a handful of whatever freight cars happen to be moving between Alamosa and Antonito on that day..... kind of a funky, latter day mixed train. (I once watched this train pass through LaJara while parked at the local Mormon Church)
At any rate, the photo of the Big Dome which you posted Mr. Norman appears to have been in service on the Antonito turn.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: An F-80, Mr. Palmland.
Only old-timers remember this early jet fighter, this one pictured as a trainer:
Saw service in Korea, but was rapidly eclipsed by the F-86 Sabrejet.
Train Granny Member # 30118
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I met one of the big-wigs from Iowas Pacific on the SW Chief. Can't remember his name, but he had been in LA for National Train Day, and he began the excursion to the Grand Canyon but had to cut it short and get back to Chicago for something having to do with NATO.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Ocala Mike, that looks like a straight F-80 to me; weren't the TF-80s and T-33s two-seaters?
(I was an official Junior Planespotter in the U.S. Navy Kiddie Auxiliary from 1944 to 1951 and still have the certificate somewhere.)
smitty195 Member # 5102
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F-80? That one is "new" (to me).
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Dr. Hale, any of these names look familiar?
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Dr. Hale, any of these names look familiar?
Not really. The fellow was not very personable. He gave (me) the impression he didn't want to be bothered talking... even at dinner. I kinda tuned out. Could have been he just didn't want to talk with me! Who knows???? It took me asking several questions to get him to tell me what he did for a living. It was a lot of "work" just talking to him.
notelvis Member # 3071
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I've rubbed elbows with two people from Iowa Pacific....... and one of them may be the one you met Marty. I had a couple of questions about a dome car answered by that one and he seemed to tolerate railfans ..... but just barely.
The other (and he may have been Ed Ellis himself since he had an unspoken yet unassuming aura of 'I'm in charge here' about him) seemed quite gregarious..... clearly enjoyed being in the company of rail travel enthusiasts. He was speaking to another person about how they were trying to find a way to earn a little extra money on top of the shortline freight operations with their vintage passenger equipment because "We like trains..."
I did not attepmt to enter the conversation because I was eavesdropping while sitting beside them in the rear car, a vintage observation lounge, on one of the Rio Grande Scenic all-day excursions from Alamosa, CO to La Veta, CO and return. I had been in the Big Dome for a wonderful ride over LaVeta Pass BUT on this unseasonably damp and grey afternoon I had moved downstairs and back one car for the last 60-90 minutes of the trip since that portion of the run is flat and straight. I was content to just overhear while watching the tracks clickety-clack behind us at a steady 15-20mph looking out the rear window.
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