The Station Time Forgot

This was once the Chicago Great Western station in Des Moines, Iowa. The station replaced the so called Union Station which was across the Des Moines river on the eastbank side of Des Moines near the Iowa State Capital in 1950, but all passenger service would end by 1962. The railroad itself was merged with the Chicago & North Western in 1968 and most of its routes including the one that passed by this station have been abandoned.

The station was turned into a restaurant at some point but is not currently being used. The building is somewhat isolated although one Thomas Beck road passes the station just to the left and a multi-use trail follows the former railroad right of way.

Coming into the Station

A Metro Green Line Light Rail train is stopping at the Fairview station on its way from St. Paul to Minneapolis.

They meet...

Two light rail trains meet in downtown Minneapolis. A green line train is almost done with its run from downtown St. Paul while a blue line train is heading toward the Mall of America.

Your not from around here are you?

A Triceratops that was once part of a dinosaur themed car wash in Brainerd, Minnesota was moved to Elk River, Minnesota after its former home closed. It is now located off the south side of US Highway 10 and just east of Joplin Street NW in the parking lot of a convenience store.

And the pitch...

A Minnesota Twins pitcher has just released the ball at a game vs. the Los Angeles Angeles at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Nibbling...

A baby sheep is nibbling on a tall piece of grass at the historic Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River, MN northwest of Minneapolis.

A Swing...

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler swings at a pitch during a game between the Los Angeles Angles and the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. The game had been delayed several hours due to rain and the Twins would ultimately loose the game.

Heading to work...

A morning commuter train traveling from Big Lake to Minneapolis, MN. The station in Minneapolis is at Target Field where the Minnesota Twins play baseball.

What is that on your head???

Utah Senator Orin Hatch and (now former) Utah Senator Bob Bennett at the grand opening ceremonies of the Utah Transit Authority's Front Runner Service at the then new intermodal station on April 26, 2008.

The Church and the Corn Field

A church stands along side a corn field in a quintessential Iowa image in a photo taken on a rural road outside of Waterloo, Iowa.

Character

The First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. As the old saying goes...they don't build them like than anymore.

Her fate is sealed...

The former Milwaukee Road train station in Mason City, Iowa that is soon face the wrecking ball like many classic train stations have recently as current owner Canadian Pacific no longer sees a need for it.

No train is coming

Former Rock Island Passenger depot in Independence, Iowa. The tracks in front the depot are decoration only.

Sun Rise at the Cemetery

Sunrise at a cemetary in rural Iowa near a crossroads named Klinger.

The Path to Higher Education

Entrance to Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.

Mother Nature Takes Over

An abandoned fast food restaurant in Vinton, Iowa.

Hauling the Goods...

Iowa Northern train passes the former Rock Island Railroad depot in Vinton, Iowa.

Look at me...

1966 Ford Mustang Coupe on display at a car show in Charles City, Iowa.

Still going strong...

The Carnegie Library in Charles City, Iowa has been repurposed as the Charles City Art Center.

Hauling the Goods...

A Canadian National freight train is traveling between Parkersburg and New Hartford, Iowa along Iowa Highway 57 which was US Highway 20.

The big gun

A Howitzer on display at Veterans Memorial Park in Independence, Iowa.

Reflection

The window of Robin's Surplus with its neon sign reflects the Hotel President in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. Robins Surplus is now permanently closed.

Relaxing at the beach...

2017 Chevrolet Impala sitting at Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph, Michigan.

A president slept here...

The home that future president Ronald Reagan lived in when he was between 9 and 12 years old in Dixon, Illinois, and located just off of US Highway 52.

Not going anywhere...

Steam locomotive and caboose on display in Independence, Iowa.

Hoppy's Primitive and Proper Ford Pickup

Hoppy's Primitive and Proper Antiques and Collectables in La Porte City, Iowa with a classic Ford pick up truck.

Don't bother me...

Identity Crises

A BMW sits near a construction site with a Ford sunshade in Los Angeles.

Cruising through the mountains in style...

A 2016 Cadillac ATS on US Highway 12 near Mt. Rainier National Park.

I'm Surrounded....

A TriMet MAX Light Rail train waits for one Portland Streetcar to past while another Portland Streetcar is about to turn toward the riverfront area. The action is taking place in front of Portland State Universities Urban Center just outside of downtown Portland, Oregon.

Soccer Action

During a youth soccer game in Portland, Oregon 2015.

Having some fun...

The Arrival

A Sounder Commuter train on a run from Tacoma to Seattle comes to a stop at the Sumner, Washington station on a beautiful spring day in 2015.

Good rainy afternoon to you

Downtown Waterloo, Iowa on a raining afternoon back in October, 2017

A Happy Teenager

Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Not so Golden anymore...

In Merrillville, Indiana just south of US Highway 30 the Golden Shrimp restaurant sits abandoned and forgotten. Apparently there was not enough people staying at the many nearby motels wanting to eat here to keep this place alive. Ironically it was the second seafood place that I encountered on this day that was closed, the other being in Joliet, Illinois also on US Highway 30. The architecture of the building gives away that this restaurant was once a Dairy Queen.

I've been abandoned...

Originally a Mission style Taco Bell, most recently a place called the Shrimp House sits abandoned on US Highway 30 on the west side of Joliet, Illinois.

It's coming to take me away...

A Sounder Commuter train arrives in Kent, Washington on its afternoon journey from Seattle to Tacoma on a beautiful spring day in 2015.

Flying by the little guy

A Norfolk Southern freight train passes by a small switch engine outside of Plainfield, Indiana on a beautiful fall day.

Another one is going...

I took this photo a few months ago and was planning to make a comment about looking for a job with no future. The banner is still up but the SEARS sign will soon be gone as this store is one of the many that were on the latest closure list. Then again if you went into this store you would probably think it was dead already. Sad that this one proud retailer and its sister company KMart will soon join the list of dead retailers. Feel sorry for the people who will be loosing their jobs but when one door closes another will open if effort is made.

Sunrise

Sunrise over Brinker Lake in Waterloo, Iowa.