What I'd been waiting for..."The Empress" CP 2816 finally steams into Marquette, Iowa at 1600 (4 PM) after leaving Davenport shortly after 0700! The 1930 H1b class 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive was restored for a grand tri-national "Final Spike Steam Tour" special from Calgary to Mexico City and back. The train passed through the Midwest southbound in early May, I previously chased it in Wisconsin on May 6th. For the return trip, they took the CPKC (ex-Iowa, Chicago & Eastern/IMRL) Marquette Sub directly from Davenport, Iowa to join the River Sub at La Crescent, MN.
Although two buttheads ruined my street running shot at Lansing (photos were unsalvageable as that lead car obstructed the front of the engine the entire length of it!), it was a nice little chase. Good to finally hear the "proper" whistle several times after they'd only used the front one the day I chased it in Wisconsin.
