I took a little trip out to the double main CNW line between Marion and Mechanicsville, IA just for a Saturday drive. I did encounter three eastbounds, two coal loaded trains with DPU's on the rear--there are some grade differences on the line. There is one at Lisbon that is about .5 %. The other eastbound was a Pacer Stacktrain with four EMD's--three SD70M's on the lead and a SD70ACe trailing. The first coal drag had a former SP unit with patchwork.
I also discovered as I made my travels east that the hooded "beanpoles" were installed. Apparantly the in-cab signal system is no longer in use as the UP installed new "beanpoles" between Clinton and Cedar Rapids with a crossover every 10 miles or so. The Pacer train was stopped at Mechanicsville so the crew could go and grab a bite to eat at the Caseys General Store (http://www.caseys.com).
I will try to get the photos on soon of the trains that I did catch after I get them transfered onto a CD-ROM at work this week.
C ya.