The Iowa Interstate is an exciting railroad to follow. While there is only 1 road freight from end-to-end each way everyday, there are a number of local switch engines and "Turn" jobs that fill in the gaps. Below is a rundown of each train or switcher that can be found on the system.
| Symbol
| Starts
| Days
| Description
|
|---|
|
CBBI-xx
|
Various
|
7 Days
|
Council Bluffs to Blue Island road train - "The East Train" or "The Eastbound"
*On-duty at about 0430 at Council Bluffs and runs train to meeting point with BICB west of Des Moines. Crew swaps and returns home terminal.
*Inbound 1500 SASW with BICB flips back to South Amana with CBBI.
*South Amana crew on-duty between 0400-0600 to take CBBI to Silvis.
*Silvis crew on-duty at 1500 to take CBBI to Blue Island.
*Arrive Blue Island after midnight.
|
|
BICB-xx
|
Various
|
7 Days
|
Blue Island to Council Bluffs road train - "The West Train" or "The Westbound"
*On-duty 1845 at Blue Island, departing around 1930.
*0500 SISW will relieve BICB and work Silvis.
*Inbound CBBI crew will return to South Amana after arriving Silvis (mid-morning).
*1500 SASW will relieve the inbound from Silvis, work the yard, and run west to Newton.
*Newton crew on-duty 0400 to take BICB to meeting point with CBBI west of Des Moines and return to home terminal.
*Arrive Council Bluffs in the afternoon.
|
|
SIBI-xx
|
2300
|
As Needed
|
Silvis to Blue Island - "Second Eastbound" - Normally consists of a loaded ethanol unit train to be delivered to the IHB, CSXT or NS at Chicago. This train will usually be daylight east of Rockdale.
|
|
BISI-xx
|
2300
|
As Needed
|
Blue Island to Silvis - "Second Westbound" - Typically consists of an empty ethanol unit train for Annawan, Cedar Rapids, Menlo, Atlantic or Council Bluffs.
|
|
SIPE-xx
|
Various
|
As Needed
|
Silvis to Peoria - Consists of traffic assembled at Silvis to Peoria.
|
|
PESI-xx
|
Various
|
As Needed
|
Peoria to Silvis - Consists of traffic assembled by TZPR Peoria to Silvis.
|
|
NSPEDM-xx
|
Various
|
As Needed
|
Norfolk Southern, Peoria to Des Moines - Empty grain train to be loaded in Des Moines. NS locomotives run-through and stay on the IAIS until the loaded train returns to the NS at Peoria.
|
|
NSDMPE-xx
|
Various
|
As Needed
|
Norfolk Southern, Des Moines to Peoria - Loaded grain train to be delivered to NS in Peoria. Same NS locomotives on empties return with loads.
|
|
SASI-xx
|
1700
|
7 Days
|
South Amana to Silvis Turn (eastbound) - This job takes all of the "east" cars that CRSA brought from Cedar Rapids and takes them to Silvis yard for blocking and unit train building.
|
|
SISA-xx
|
-
|
7 Days
|
Silvis to South Amana Turn (westbound) - Same crew from SASI returns to South Amana. SISA typically advances the BISI to South Amana or handles the PECR loaded coal train from Silvis to Cedar Rapids when it runs. Will pickup at Rock Island if necessary.
|
|
SACR-xx
|
0400
|
7 Days
|
South Amana to Cedar Rapids Turn (northbound) - This job is called to relieve the SISA crew. The inbound SISA is normally taken straight to Cedar Rapids via the Yocum Connection, but will pickup from South Amana yard if necessary. Makes delivery to Crandic's (CIC) "900 Yard" at the southwestern edge of Cedar Rapids.
|
|
CRSA-xx
|
-
|
-
|
Cedar Rapids to Iowa City Turn (southbound) - Departs Cedar Rapids after the inbound SACR has completed work at Cedar Rapids. This crew will often make a second turn SACR Turn to Cedar Rapids as needed.
|
|
PECR-xx
|
Various
|
Once a Week
|
Peoria to Cedar Rapids - Coal loads from NS at Peoria delivered to the CIC at Cedar Rapids. NS power runs through to Silvis and is combined with IAIS power (SISA) from Silvis to South Amana.
|
|
CRPE-xx
|
Various
|
Once a Week
|
Cedar Rapids to Peoria - Coal empties from the CIC Cedar Rapids to the NS at Peoria. The same NS power that brought the loaded train to Cedar Rapids will be returned with the empties to Peoria. An extra crew normally handles the empty coal train as a separate train, but it has been combined with CBBI at South Amana for the run to Silvis on occasion.
|
|
CBSW-xx
|
0600
|
|
Council Bluffs Switcher - Switches inbound west train, interchange with UP, work the intermodal ramp, build east train and possibly run a shuttle train to the elevator at Hancock.
|
|
CBSW-xx
|
2000
|
|
Council Bluffs Switcher - Works the yards, interchange with UP, protects and switches the westbound, shuttle trains to Hancock or what 0430 job can't get done.
|
|
ATSW-xx
|
1700
|
Monday - Friday
|
Atlantic Switcher - "The Rover" - Works west to Council Bluffs and east to Des Moines, works both the Grimes and Prairie City branches if need be, and does interchange with the NS/BNSF and UP. Generally stays west of Des Moines.
|
|
DMSW-xx
|
1000
|
Sunday - Thursday
|
Des Moines Switcher - Works the Des Moines interchanges and the Grimes Branch.
|
|
NTSW-xx
|
1100
|
Monday - Friday
|
Newton Switcher - Works the industries between Altoona and Grinnell as needed. This crew will be used to assist CBBI when it arrives in the afternoon.
|
|
SASW-xx
|
2300
|
As Needed
|
South Amana Switcher - Builds outbound BICB, works SA yard and builds outbound CBBI.
|
|
SASW-xx
|
0600
|
Monday - Friday
|
South Amana Switcher - Makes a flip to Iowa City to work the local industries and interchange with the CIC.
|
|
RISW-xx
|
1300
|
Sunday - Thursday
|
Rock Island Switcher. Works Milan Branch. Will pull/spot interchange with CP in Davenport. Switches interchange cars from CP and BNSF at Rock Island yard.
|
|
RIRSW-xx
|
2300
|
Monday - Friday
|
Rock Island Road Switcher - Works industries at Wilton, Durant, and Davenport, typically Mon/Wed/Fri. Will make Silvis flip or work Milan Branch as needed.
|
|
SISW-xx
|
0500
|
7 Days
|
Silvis Switcher - Switches the inbound BICB at the west end of Silvis and switches in the inbound CBBI.
|
|
SISW-xx
|
2359
|
Sunday - Thursday
|
Silvis Switcher - This crew works Silvis Yard and the inbound SASI.
|
|
SIRI-xx
|
1000
|
Monday - Friday
|
Silvis to Rock Island Switcher - Transfers cars to/from Rock Island Yard, works Silvis yard, and other duties as needed.
|
|
BUSW-xx
|
0830
|
Monday - Friday
|
Bureau Switcher - "The Rocket" - Crew works as-needed east to LaSalle/Utica, south to Henry/Chillicothe/Peoria, or west to Annawan/Silvis.
|
|
BIIND-xx
|
0730
|
7 Days
|
Blue Island Industrial (Switcher) - Pulls IHB if needed, builds BICB, works Ozinga in Mokena if needed.
|
|
BIIHB-xx
|
1000
|
7 Days
|
Blue Island to the IHB (Switcher) - Delivers IHB manifest from CBBI or SIBI and pulls manifest from IHB.
|
|
BISW-xx
|
1630-1930
|
As Needed
|
Blue Island Switcher - Relieves BIIHB if necessary and does industry work (Evans Yard and/or Ozinga) and builds BISI if needed.
|
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