Iowa Interstate QJ's Donated

[MQT1223]

Sounds like the Iowa Interstate is getting rid of the QJ's they have had for just shy of 10 years. Henry Posner, the chairmen of the Iowa Interstate has said the QJ's have became an increasing liability and a distraction to business operations. Doesn't sound like he hated having the QJ's but apparently in the long run they became to much of a burden. The QJ's are / have been donated to a new non profit, Central States Steam Preservation Association. Cannot find any info on the new association but there have been fundraising efforts on cooperation with the IAIS. The group has high hopes to run on BNSF tracks from Galesburg to Omaha next year for rail days. First reported on Trainorders. Don't know if it's true or not cause a lot of false info comes from that site as well. Sounds legit to me since the QJ's have operated less and less the past few years.

[Bulby]

While it is unfortunate, if it is true, it is not like we couldn't see it coming. The car accident last year was likely the last straw. Nothing to see here folks, just more insurance companies raining on the parade.

[MQT1223]

While it is unfortunate, if it is true, it is not like we couldn't see it coming. The car accident last year was likely the last straw. Nothing to see here folks, just more insurance companies raining on the parade.

There was a car accident involving one of the locomotives? Or just an excursion train? That's more the drivers fault if he tried to beat the train, not the trains fault.

[Bulby]

While it is unfortunate, if it is true, it is not like we couldn't see it coming. The car accident last year was likely the last straw. Nothing to see here folks, just more insurance companies raining on the parade.

There was a car accident involving one of the locomotives? Or just an excursion train? That's more the drivers fault if he tried to beat the train, not the trains fault.

No, the accident did not directly involve the locomotives, though I suspect the victim's lawyers would disagree. A foamer was chasing an excursion (pulled by one of the QJs) and when the train stopped, he attempted to turn around. He was paying more attention to the train and his camera than he was to the road and struck an oncoming vehicle. The innocent driver had to be pried from the car and removed on a back board. Fortunately, among the train's passengers were EMTs, who got off and helped.

[MQT1223]

While it is unfortunate, if it is true, it is not like we couldn't see it coming. The car accident last year was likely the last straw. Nothing to see here folks, just more insurance companies raining on the parade.

There was a car accident involving one of the locomotives? Or just an excursion train? That's more the drivers fault if he tried to beat the train, not the trains fault.

No, the accident did not directly involve the locomotives, though I suspect the victim's lawyers would disagree. A foamer was chasing an excursion (pulled by one of the QJs) and when the train stopped, he attempted to turn around. He was paying more attention to the train and his camera than he was to the road and struck an oncoming vehicle. The innocent driver had to be pried from the car and removed on a back board. Fortunately, among the train's passengers were EMTs, who got off and helped.

Well that is a shame. But even though the QJ's will not be directly connected to the Iowa Interstate I expect them to still make frequent visits to the towns that they have been traveling to for the past 8 years.

[~Z~]

For those that don't remember what a "QJ"' is, it's a steam locomotive that came over to the US from China:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-yncWwDpzk

[MQT1223]

Any word on the status of the new group that got possession of the QJ's?