June 15th, 2009
We were invited to stay with a family friend in Wellington, near Taunton, and tour the West Somerset Railway. We boarded the train at Reading station and went across to Newport, Wales, returning via Bristol and heading down to Taunton for the next day's trip. At Newport, we went to a bridge and watched for about 30 minutes. Moments after we left, a train came over with a pair of rare Class 67s! Grumbling at the loss, I was more than a little surprised to have the same train return a few minutes later and take us to Taunton.
Newport, Wales
Newport is the first city over the border from England and is apparently where Class 66s coming from Canada are off-loaded.
video
Several trains cross the bridge in Newport in the few minutes we watched, followed by a Class 67-led passenger train entering the station as we walked back and a short freight train passing through.
December 28th, 2019
We followed the Iowa Interstate (IAIS) from Davenport to Omaha, catching an eastbound intermodal and ethanol train almost immediately, and parked but noisy power with a work clearance but not moving at Newport. We finished the day at the west end of the line watching headlights reflecting off the sides of nearby freight cars without the power ever actually materialising, to the amusement of a friendly railway security officer.
Newport, Iowa
Newport is east of Des Moines on the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
