The Hawkeye state hosts 3 major corridors between Chicago and the West Coast, with freight services divided between Union Pacific and BNSF. The state's 3900 miles of trackage also carries Amtrak's California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief. The states first chartered railroad was the Mississippi & Missouri, was established in 1853.
TheBoone & Scenic Valley RR runs a Chinese steam locomotive, the 2-8-2 JS8419, Saturdays from Memorial Day until the end of October.
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The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad runs scenic train rides that include a Pumpkin Express, a Santa Express and a Day Out With Thomas. A two and a half hours scenic Dinner Train offers elegant dining as it travels through the Des Moines River Valley. Static displays in include the 1940 Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad #17, the last 2-8-0 built in Canada. Directions.
Trainland U.S.A. is an operating toy train museum, displaying Lionel trains and accessories. It is so named because it depicts the development of the railroad across the United States. This exhibit represents three eras of time; frontier, steam, and diesel. The display area is the size of two average ranch style homes. The center section is the frontier and steam era, while the outside is diesel which runs from coast to coast. All scenery is handpainted and the entire layout is glass enclosed. Four control panels create an automated train control system with their own telephone communications. There are approx. 60 operating Lionel accessories still in their original state.
The Union Pacific collection was started in 1921, following the discovery of several pieces of silver hollowware from President Abraham Lincoln's funeral car. Today, the museum houses one of the oldest corporate collections in the nation and includes artifacts, photographs, and documents ranging from the railroad's construction in the 1860s to contemporary operations. The Carnegie Library Building at 200 Pearl St., home for the museum, was constructed in 1903. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum includes artifacts, photographs and documents that trace the development of the railroad and the American West. The collection dates to the mid-1800's, featuring original editions of reports from survey teams that searched for the best land route to join the nation, east to west. Surveying equipment, early rail equipment, and artifacts from the construction of the nation's first transcontinental railroad tell the story of one of the world's construction marvels. Union Pacific 2010 Steam Schedule
and the Southwest Chief. The states first chartered railroad was the Mississippi & Missouri, was established in 1853. 
