VINTAGE LOCOMOTIVES

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CENTENNIAL'S Well I took a trip to Councils Buffs, Iowa and I just happened to find this locomotive going thought town. This is the last running DD40AX Centennial of the 47 built by GM. It's still the most powerful diesel locomotive ever built at 6,600 hp, with 8 axles and 16 driving wheels turning 136,000 lbs of tractive effort (turning force against the rails). It's a big locomotive at 98'5" long and weighing in at 270 tons. This locomotive has two diesel engines (one in each end) and can reach speeds of 90 mph. I beat it don't take long to burn the 8,200 gallons of fuel in the tank.


CHALLENGER In June of 2002 the Union Pacific's steam locomotive Challenger was to make it's way thought Iowa, so I was off to catch it. I caught up with it in Clinton, Iowa and followed it to Cedar Rapids Iowa. This was the first time for me to see a steam locomotive in operation. So this was a real treat for me. It weights in at 627,900 lbs and has a tractive effort of 97,350 lbs (turning force against the rails).


OTHERS These are some others that I got pictures of in my travels thought Iowa. The first one is a 4-8-4 steamer that rest in Council Buffs, Iowa. Then in Omaha, Nebraska, a 4-8-8-4 big boy the biggest steam loco, along with a the first centennial 6900 that was built. The last picture take us to Oelwein, Iowa were I found this old F- unit painted in Chicago & Great Western colors.