High above Bellevue, IA is the overlook at the conveniently named Bellevue State Park. From this perch above the Mississippi River, you can see a long ways north, across the entire town of Bellevue, up the valley almost to Dubuque, IA, some 25 miles upriver. The view of the town is quite nice, railfans may recognize the view from up here for its famous stretch of street running trackage along the DM&E. However, I think the town is just as interesting looking, with its small town charms. The big church steeple and the town water tower stand tall over the house roofs, and especially stand out on a cold and snowy evening, just after the sun had set in the western sky. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the things I’m constantly thinking about when making my railroad photos is the relationship between the trains and the places through which they’re passing. From a small town to a giant city, the railroad was usually there first, and is most likely the primary reason for the town (or whatever it may be) being there in the first place. I always like to include at least some element of the surroundings into a photo to give it a sense of place, to break from being ‘just another train photo’. Read the rest of this entry »
Starting 430 miles to the north, near Lake Superior, the Wisconsin River flows into the Mississippi River just south of Prairie Du Chien, WI. The delta formed by the junction of the rivers is vast and there are many small inlets and bays filled with backwater. This time of year, they are all frozen over, of course. And high on the bluffs just across the Mississippi, near McGregor, IA, is Pike’s Peak State Park, offering an incredible view of the confluence of the rivers and the surrounding countryside. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s winter in Iowa. Read the rest of this entry »
I’d actually noticed this little factory on a previous visit to Dubuque, IA, and I regretted not taking this shot. But, I think it looks better in the winter anyway. Note that there is nothing fun about this photo, bleak winter snow and cloud cover, vacant industrial park, standard brick warehouse building, overhead power lines (which reminded me of these industrial paintings by Emmett Kerrigan that I saw in a gallery here in Chicago). But oh, those trucks, advertising Barrel O’ Fun Snacks; this is where their fun is born. Read the rest of this entry »
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