IAIS PLACES ORDER FOR 12 GE ES44ACs
Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Iowa Interstate has placed an order for its first new motive power - a set of twelve 4400 horsepower, AC-traction General Electric ES44ACs. The units are being purchased to handle new traffic anticipated to come online in 2009, as well as for both for fuel and maintenance savings. All twelve are anticipated to be on the railroad by the first of October.

A PDF of the official IAIS press release can be found [here].

Current informed speculation is that the units will be numbered as IAIS 500-511. All of the existing 150s and 700s will be retained, though this likely spells the end for the remaining 400s as well as the two GMTX blue lease units. Over on the IAIS railfan list, John Ryan posted links to two conceptual designs for the paint on these units ([#1] and [#2]). Joe Atkinson reported to the list that rumor has it this isn't too far off from how the units will actually look. - NDH

ANOTHER SD38-2 ARRIVES - IAIS 156
Posted Thursday, December 6, 2007
Another IAIS SD38-2 has arrived via the IC&E - IAIS 156. Having gone through some maintenance, upgrades, and repainting at Mid-America Car in Kansas City, MO, 156 should be interchanged to the Iowa Interstate at Davenport either today or tomorrow. 157, the next SD38-2 bound for IAIS, is still reportedly at MAC in Kansas City. - NDH

MOTIVE POWER CHANGES - 250, 625-627 SOLD
Posted Thursday, November 15, 2007
In the last two months, the Iowa Interstate roster has undergone yet more changes. IAIS 250, the road's only true switch engine, has been sold to Patriot Renewable Fuels in Annawan, IL. It'll serve as the plant switcher for this new ethanol plant, and won't be far from home rails, as Iowa Interstate provides the facility's rail connection. It went east on 9-Sep-2007 and was delivered to the plant shortly thereafter.

IAIS 625-627, three of the four GP38ACs, have been sold to Grainbelt Corporation, a railroad in Oklahoma that operates ex-Frisco lines and is associated with Farmrail. The units left Iowa Interstate rails on 30-Oct-2007, when they were delivered to the BNSF interchange to make their way south. 628 was retained by IAIS, and speculation is that it may become a mother to another new slug, similar to 601/650. - NDH