Blowing in the Wind

Near Clinton, Iowa is this industrial plant on the southwest side of town. I don't know if it is a power plant or manufacturing facility. At this time of year, grey clouds, stiff winds and leafless trees reinforce winter's grip on the Midwest. Spring comes on March 20. We shall see.

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New Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) Locomotive at Penford

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) has introduced a new locomotive recently to its fleet. The RELCO built locomotive serves the Linn, Johnson and Benton Counties area for heavy industry customers. This afternoon the 201 locomotive, one of eight new engines, was working at the Penford plant in downtown Cedar Rapids, moving filled cars situated on the new, post 2008 flood bridge.

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A Player and Her Coach

March is an exciting time for college basketball. In order to participate in post season tournaments players need to do their part and win games. The University of Northern Iowa Panthers have done a great job this season so far with two games left, both are home on March 6 and March 8.

UNI's Tanya Warren closely watches her team's performance against Missouri State on Valentine's Day 2014.

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Ref Watch

Referees don't usually get a share of limelight. If a game is called correctly, refs may be acknowledged. If there is a controversial call then fingers point to the game officials. This ref and her crew called a balanced game recently at a University of Northern Iowa basketball game. While looking mad she actually may be tired as it was near the end of the game when this photo was taken.

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A View to Magnetic North

My old compass still shows the way to magnetic north. This 16-point compass displays the four main cardinal points plus the 12 half wind directions. The traditional north symbol, a fleur-de-lis has been stylized from its French origins to something else from Germany. Looks to be pre-WWII. Now you will never be lost.

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Wyoming Coal Delivery Via the Union Pacific

The lights came on, the bell started ringing and the gates came down. Traffic stopped at the UP crossing in SE Cedar Rapids to let a fast moving train zip on by. Locomotive 6053 moved pretty quickly from the west pulling several cars filled with coal, that is most likely from the Gillette, Wyoming area mines.

One of the highlights of this fast mover was the cloud of snow that was kicked up by the moving train. The effect produced a small snowstorm in the immediate area as the powder snow settled nearby after the train past.

At the end of the train, where the traditional caboose would have been was an unexpected surprise. A pusher locomotive occupied the last position giving the train a bit more oomph to move that coal. Commonplace? Maybe, but its interesting to see how the nation's infrastructure works on the rails - in the winter - with a load of coal - moving fast.

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NOTANOTHERSQUIRRELPHOTO

Seems like it is a long winter. With camera pointed through the back window for photo ideas, this well fed squirrel chomps away on birdseed that he knocked from the feeder above. Its probably the same animal that I photographed a few posts ago. You are seeing this image because it turned out fairly nice and is in focus for being shot through a window.

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