Showing posts with label Iowa Interstate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iowa Interstate. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Iowa Interstate GP38-2 #706 Let's Draw A Locomotive Part 7: Applying The Black Ink To The Drawing


I now have a 7-part Iowa Interstate GP38-2 #706 "Let's Draw A Locomotive" drawing demonstration series.  This video is Part 7 where I apply the black ink to the locomotive.

You can watch me draw Iowa Interstate GP38-2 #706 from start to finish in Parts 1 through 7 on my andyfletchertrains YouTube channel. I hope you enjoy it.


Sunday, August 4, 2024

Railroads of Des Moines 1 Rock Island, Iowa Interstate, Chicago and North Western


In my Railroad Cities series, I focus on cities across America and railroads that served them through the years.  Historically, Des Moines has been served by many railroads.  

Rock Island was known as the "Route of the Rockets."  It's rails connected cities throughout the Midwest and reached as far west as Denver and Tucumcari, New Mexico.  Rock Island out of business in 1980, and its rails are either abandoned , made into rail trails, or served by various short line and regional railroads such as today's Iowa Interstate, our second locomotive.

Iowa Interstate, based in Cedar Rapids, was formed in 1984.  As its name states, it served cities throughout the State of Iowa, connecting Chicago to Council Bluffs. Short line and regional railroads such as Iowa Interstate provide first mile/last mile service that interchange freight to larger Class 1 Railroads who take the freight across North America to customers, other short lines, and to ports. 

Our third locomotive is from the Chicago and North Western.  Chicago and North Western also connected many of the cities throughout the Midwest.  It is now a part of today's Union Pacific.

See my Railroads of Des Moines poster at my website, customtrains.org

 

Monday, April 22, 2024

"The Railroad Game: Episode 11" Iowa Interstate Railroad, Great Northern, Norfolk and Western

“The Railroad Game: Episode 11” features questions about Iowa Interstate Railroad, Great Northern, Norfolk and Western, Western Pacific and Amtrak. Test your knowledge of locomotives in The Lightning Round! Watch on my YouTube https://youtu.be/3GpObVsVJ9M?si=x6RKMB8fSshXuq96

 

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Railroads of Des Moines by Andy Fletcher

Through the years, Des Moines has been served by many railroads. Enjoy my Railroads of Des Moines Railroad Narrative #1 about Rock Island, Iowa Interstate Railroad and Chicago & North Western on my Andy Fletcher Trains YouTube https://youtu.be/EpPfCOD1sFU?si=gtZFcwh37gZZ-iXk

 

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Iowa Interstate Rock Island Heritage ES44AC #513


Iowa Interstate ES44AC #513 celebrates Iowa Interstate's heritage with the Rock Island railroad.  Iowa Interstate is a member of ASLRRA and provides first mile/last mile service to Iowa and Illinois.  

See my Iowa Interstate artwork at http://www.customtrains.org

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Rock Island Locomotives at Des Moines, Iowa

These Rock Island locomotives prepare to lead their trains at Des Moines, Iowa. ASLRRA member regional railroad Iowa Interstate provides first mile/ last mile service in Iowa and Illinois on the former Rock Island. 

See my Rock Island artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/rock-island.html

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Rock Island Locomotives at Council Bluffs

These Rock Island locomotives prepare to lead trains at Council Bluffs. Rock Island from Council Bluffs to Blue Island is part of today’s ASLRRA member Iowa Interstate.  

See my Rock Island artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/rock-island.html

Thursday, March 22, 2018

A Rock Island Train Heads to the Port of Houston

Rock Island connected the Midwest and the Gulf Coast. This Rock Island train carries grain from Des Moines, Iowa to the Port of Houston. Sections of the Rock Island have become parts of various Class 1, Regional and short line railroads, such as ASLRRA member Iowa Interstate.

To see my Rock Island 11"x17" signed posters and/or magnets, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Rock Island Locomotives at Blue Island, Illinois

An F7,  GP40 and GP7 head to Denver with a long general merchandise freight at Blue Island. Meanwhile, an FP7 leads the morning commute into Chicago as a lone GP40 receives service before its next run across the Rock Island.  Blue Island was a busy hub of activity on the Rock Island and remains an important yard for Rock Island successor, Iowa Interstate.

To see my Rock Island posters, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Sunday, February 18, 2018

A Rock Island SW900 Builds a Train Carrying Harmon Glass at Des Moines, Iowa

A Rock Island switch engine builds a train at Des Moines, Iowa.  Today's train carries architectural glass from Harmon Glass bound for interchange at Chicago with Norfolk and Western, Penn Central and Chessie System.  Harmon Glass is now part of Apogee.  Rock Island's route between Council Bluffs and Chicago is part of ASLRRA member regional railroad Iowa Interstate.

To see my Rock Island 11"x17" posters, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Monday, January 22, 2018

An Iowa Interstate Intermodal Train at Council Bluffs

This Iowa Interstate intermodal train heads from Council Bluffs to Blue Island.  Iowa Interstate is a true success story.  Intermodal service continues to increase throughout the industry.  Iowa Interstate not only invested in Council Bluffs and Blue Island intermodal facilities, but in modern GE Transportation ES44AC locomotives.  Iowa Interstate is a member of ASLRRA.

To see my Iowa Interstate 11"x17" poster, visit my website at customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Monday, January 15, 2018

Railroads of Omaha


As a railroad town, Omaha's legacy will always be firmly planted as the home of Union Pacific.   Historically, Omaha and neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa, have served as a crossroads of railroad traffic as it crosses America.
Railroads such as Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, Chicago Burlington and Quincy, Rock Island, Chicago and North Western, Chicago Great Western and Milwaukee Road once served these cities.  
Today Omaha and Council Bluffs are served by Union Pacific, BNSF, ASLRRA member railroad Iowa Interstate and Amtrak.

To see my Railroads of Omaha 11"x17" signed poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Iowa Interstate- Truly A Railroad Success Story

Everytime I head through Council Bluffs, it is exciting to see Iowa Interstate and its intermodal operations.  Iowa Interstate and its operations on the former Rock Island truly stand out among railroad success stories.
Iowa Interstate was one of the first regionals that I drew in 1992 as I began to draw America's railroads.  It is exciting to still see Iowa Interstate going strong over twenty years later.