Just a little "taste" of Dubuque IA

[ChiefEagles]

Harveybox, here are some more: [click on the photos and enlarge them]

The tunnel across on the East Dubuque side.


Switcher at what seemed to be a woodworking factory [behind the shot tower]


The shot tower [bad Yankees [;)]]


Old brewery being restored


The BNSF tracks on the east side [actually there were two trains meeeting there and one parked]


enjoy.

[Anonymous]

It was interesting to see the photos of Dubuque. I grew up in East Dubuque.
The train bridge in the photos is the old Illinois Central bridge between East Dubuque Illinois and Dubuque Iowa. As an eighth grader, I walked this bridge several times (not legal) to get to a ball field on the Dubuque end. Was always exciting. One time a train came when we were in the middle of the bridge and we had to jump down on an emergency platform. Was very scary. I think the bridge is over 100 years old.
The homes on the bluff in the background of several photos are on the East Dubuque side of the river. If you look close at the background of photo #4, you can see that the train is coming out of a tunnel in the side of the bluff. This tunnel was built by Illinois Central and curves thru the bluff and comes out at the west end of downtown East Dubuque. At the east end of the bridge and in front of the tunnel entrance is the crossing of the Burlington (BNSF) mainline. The BNSF runs along the east side of the river from East Dubuque northerly to LaCrosse Wisconsin (my current home) and beyond.
In photo #3 you can see a tall brick structure in the background. that is the civil war shot tower, a Dubuque landmark. the tower was used to make lead shot for Union army rifles. Molten lead was dripped from the top of the tower inside and cooled off as it dropped to the bottom, creating lead balls.
When I was young, East Dubuque was kind of a mecca for railroading. Being on the Burlington mainline we saw numerous passenger trains each day. Morning and afternoon Zephyrs, Mainstreeter, Blackhawk, NP North Coast Limited, GN Empire Builder, and the IC Land O' Corn. The Empire Builder always came through right at 4:30 pm, almost always right on time. If we were fishing or playing within sight of the tracks, we knew it was time to head home for supper when the Builder came through.
Thanks for the photos and the memories they bring back

[1688torpedo]

Hello Chief ! Nice Pictures. Hope you had a good time in Dubuque......................Keith

[laz 57]

CHIEF nice shots.
How was the fishing tournament?
Any biggens?
laz57

[jonadel]

Chief,

I'm here on the sidelines just watching the fun. I don't have the answer to your question but hopefully sometime this summer we will make the trip to Dubuque and I can find out. I want to make the drive from Dubuque to St. Paul this summer on the Great River Road to just soak up the scenery. Also on the bigger plan is to drive from St. Paul to New Orleans some fall and enjoy the change of seasons, we've had friends do that on bikes, I would love to do that. Took them 28 days with lots of leisurely stops.

Jon

[Anonymous]

I lived in Dubuque for four years in the late 90s. A great little town; freindly people; a reasonable drive to Chicago or Milwaukee; and lots of train action along the banks of the Mississippi.

[ChiefEagles]

Dr. John, I saw one brightly colored engine with something like that on the side but missed the shot. Never saw it again. Bet Jon knows [where is Jon??]. Chirs, go ahead.

[Anonymous]

Nice shots!

Do you mind if I DL a few?

[wrmcclellan]

Chief,

Great shots!

[Dr. John]

Isn't that where the Illinois Central and the Chicago Great Western once crossed many moons ago?

[ChiefEagles]

Cabela's Walleye Classic. Buckeye, you should have had lightning last night. We flew parallel to thunderstorms and flew over Cincinnati. Lots of lightning over your way.

[Buckeye Riveter]

There was a movie filmed in Dubuque because it hadn't changed and still looked like a city in the 1930's.

Chief, what was in Dubuque that took you there? I can't believe it was a BPS?

[Jim Duda]

Chief - if you put your canoe in the Mississippi and paddled downriver for about 75 miles you'd be in Bettendorf, IA (guess where the Bettendorf rail trucks got their name) where I was born, raised, and lived for 41 years. I always wanted to bicycle to Dubuque but I wasn't strong enough to pull all those hills! Hope you enjoyed your stay!

[ChiefEagles]