Iowa River Valley Trail?

ELDORA, IOWA - Over the past several months, central Iowa media outlets have been reporting on the expected abandonment of the Iowa River Railroad which owns the former Union Pacific, (ex CNW, M&Stl, Iowa Central) railroad line that runs from Ackley to Marshalltown.  Actually, IARR only plans to abandon the segment from Steamboat Rock to Marshalltown, as north of Steamboat Rock to Ackley IARR still runs regular traffic from the ethanol plant at Highway 20 to the CN railroad at Ackley.  Over the last several years railroad traffic has declined, particularly from Eldora south, due to a number of economic and other factors..
     The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has been spearheading efforts to preserve this corridor for a possible multi-use trail through the area, engaging local government entities along the line about the possibility of converting this to a trail if abandoned by IARR.  A recent article in the Marshalltown Times-Republican made it sound like the Board of Supervisors in Marshall County weren't too excited about the notion, citing the cost of maintenance.  However, it sounds like support may be a little more favorable up in Hardin County for such an endeavor.  Will be interesting to see how this evolves, but I certainly think this corridor would make for a fantastic trail through a very scenic part of Central Iowa and could provide a good boost to the economy in the towns along that potential trail.

RRVT

WAUKEE, IOWA - The weather the past couple of weeks has returned to more seasonal conditions, much different than the abnormally warm weather we enjoyed during March.  I've noticed the RRVT hasn't been quite as busy as it was with the warmer weather, but I expect that will change once the warmth returns later this week.
     Yesterday afternoon, checking the radar I was surprised to see that there were a couple of tornado warning polygons on the screen up in northwest Iowa.  No severe weather was forecast for the day, however a cold front was sweeping across Iowa apparently spawning some "cold air funnels" that must have reached the ground.  While taking a quick ride down the RRVT to Waukee and back, it was quite obvious that the front was approaching rapidly from the northwest as a bank of clouds overtook the clear skies overhead.  Returned just in time for a quick thundershower to douse the neighborhood before the sun returned to illuminate Dallas Center's "prairie silos".  Fortunately no funnel clouds sighted on the Raccoon River Valley Trail this afternoon!