Ft Madison IA Joyriders....

Just got done watching a video on Virtual Railfan's Ewetube page & am wondering if anyone here was out joyriding on their tractor across the swing bridge? If so, you can be found at 16:56 in the video. If it wasn't anyone here, well.... enjoy the video. There is a neat shot of the American Splendor riverboat after that clip & it also appears again zoomed in close range near the end of the vid.

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Mike

Yesterday was drive your tractor to Hamilton, Ill. for Western Illinois Threshers show. 6 tractors left Wayland, Ia. and picked up more at Mt. Pleasant and New London. I was number 12 as we left New London, lost 1 just south of New London but picked up a few more on the way. Lunch in the park at West Point and picked up another 8 or 9 there. We went thru Sawyer and wound our way to Fort Madison picking tractors up as we went along. About 28 tractors crossed the bridge there and then we picked up another 10 plus 2 tractors and 2 lawn mowers on a trailer after crossing into Illinois.39 tractors plus the trailer load arrived and the showgrounds. Wayland to Hamilton was about 86 miles. We got there about 5 and got parked and they had supper for us. Had to drag in a couple that died on the road, but it was a good day and a good ride. I had hauled my tractor to Mt. Pleasant and joined them there and got a ride back to Mt Pleasant where I had parked my truck and trailer. I decided to leave my trailer there and drive down the Iowa side and fill up in Iowa before loading up and bringing the tractor home on the Illinois side. I left home at 7am and drove the Mt Pleasant and got home at 9:15 pm. Long day!!

Heres a few pictures. New London



Crossing the bridge in Fort Madison







The trains run on the lower section of the bridge and cars on top. There is a sharp curve on both ends to bring the road over the railroad tracks. Signs said no semis or trailers on bridge

That sounds like a great day & thanks for the pictures! Didn't know there was limited clearance on the top deck of the bridge. That makes sense as to why they keep the big trucks off of it. Probably not weight rated for the newer rigs either.

Mike