RRHMA "Tractors and Trains" 2024 - Jeddo Coal Co. 85, NRE deadlines, ATSF 537, UP 6936/3985 & More!

On October 18-19, 2024, the preservation organization Railroading Heritage of Midwest America held their first annual event called "Tractors and Trains." They trucked in the 1928 Vulcan Iron Works 0-4-0T Jeddo Coal Co. No. 85 (a sister to Flagg Coal Co. 75) to operate short push-pull excursions through the yard trackage of the former Rock Island/National Railway Equipment shops complex, which has been RRHMA's home base since 2022.

Also in 2022, RRHMA received a large donation of historic locomotives and rolling stock from Union Pacific. This included the 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" No. 3985 (replaced in UP's own steam program by 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" No. 4014), the 1923 Baldwin 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" type UP 5511, and the EMD DDA40X or "Centennial" eight-axle diesel locomotive, UP 6936 among other equipment.

We take a ride on the 11 AM train, entertained by "Engineer Paul" singing his *completely original(!) train songs as we roll past the remaining National Railway Equipment "boneyard" dead lines of diesel locomotives. Many of these are of Missouri Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Milwaukee Road lineage, some still in fallen flag paint schemes.

Then we see the noon train depart, and take a look at the freshly repainted and unveiled ATSF 537, a "Super Fleet" GE B40-8W donated to RRHMA by BNSF. Next we take a ride on "Little Obie," the rubber-tire CN safety awareness train that is available for hire at railroad-themed events like this. Once again we pass by 6936 on display with two coaches, the remnants of the NRE deadlines, and the Iowa Interstate yard on the south side of the road. IAIS 701 collided with an asphalt truck in Iowa on October 9th. As we wait in line at the food truck, the 1 PM train departs, with a cameo by "Little Obie."

Then we take the shop tour. We get to walk through a 1959 St. Louis Car Company café car, UP 5016 (part of the big donation from UP) which is in the early stages of restoration, get up close to the big steam locomotives under restoration including a look inside the firebox and boiler of 3985, and walk through the cab of USAX 1678, a 1952 GE 80-tonner also recently added to RRHMA's collection. We were also informed that for this event, Jeddo Coal 85 was operating with the whistle off of UP 5511.

0:00 Intro
0:10 Riding the 11 AM train with music by "Engineer Paul"
3:47 Noon train departs
6:58 ATSF 537 and NREX 8683 (Conrail paint)
7:36 Riding "Little Obie"
10:36 1 PM train departs
11:44 Shop Tour
17:39 3 PM train departs
19:44 3 PM train returns