Reference my earlier blog post Two of my Favorite Train Vacations.
As of June 26, 2020, the Kingsley Inn has been host to the newest Virtual Railfan live camera. When you click the video link, you will be able to watch the live camera feed on the BNSF swing bridge, the railway leading past the Kingsley Inn, and the northeast and southwest views of the Mississippi River.
History of Swing Bridge — it’s not replaced yet….
The Kingsley Inn and Guest House
In Fort Madison, you will notice the location of the fort’s central blockhouse and the foundations of officers’ quarters beside the Riverview Park (which is a bass fishing area). The Fort Madison Santa Fe Depot Museum is south of this and nearby is the BNSF switchyard.
Chief Black Hawk
Fort Madison was named for James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, and was the site of a battle between Chief Black Hawk and U.S. Army troops during the War of 1812. In his autobiography, Chief Black Hawk lamented the construction of the fort, saying, “…[we] understood from them that the war chief had said they were building homes for a trader who was coming there to live, and would sell us goods very cheap, and that the soldiers were to remain there to keep him company. We were pleased…but not so credulous as to believe that all these buildings were intended merely for the accommodation of a trader. Being distrustful of their intentions, we were anxious for them to leave off building and go back down the river.”
As the war went on, and after several attacks and a final siege, the Army troops abandoned the fort. Later, Chief Black Hawk came to see the ruins and said, “We started in canoes, and descended the Mississippi, until we arrived near the place where Fort Madison had stood. It had been abandoned and burned by the whites, and nothing remained but the chimneys. We were pleased to see that the white people had retired from the country.”(Wikipedia)
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River as seen from Riverview Park in Fort Madison, Iowa. Spanning the Mississippi River and linking Iowa Highway 2 with Illinois Route 9, Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa/Hancock County, Illinois. (Jose De La Rose)
dear mrs. vanbuecken,
i just want to thank you for making it possible to have a live-stream from the fort madison railway with the river missisippi. since this virtual railfan is life i see ist 7/24. i have missed it the last week when the camera was offline and now i am happy again to watch it. i am an austrian woman with age of 76. i cannot travel around anymore because of some diseases, but i feel like an inhabitant from fort madison. i also look on google map for this city and if i would be younger there would not any other place i would like to travel, in addition i would like to stay in your marvelous hotel. please take my best regards and i wish you to stay healthy. yours grete blacha
Grete — Nice to know you. You might try
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm83cA6JZQgsince the power down. They set up a new camera. Tryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et-3-BMSv38in Galesburg, Illinois too — Donnahello, i am grete blacha again. i must say that i still like to see the rails and what i like most to watch at the moment is the changing colors of the autumn trees. this is a wonderful scene. former i liked the sight on the full moon when it was shown and also the thunderstorm over the missisippi. congratulation! this is the best rail-video i ever have seen.
in addition i am glad to see that the road works are finished, although it also was interesting to watch the ongoing from this work. dear donna, i wish you to have a good autumn. i wonder how this landscape looks like with snow. do you have snow there?
bye bye
I saw that moon, Greta, too. The first snowfall
— Donna
dear donna, thanks for your reply, i have saved all live links from virtual rail fan, but i confess, i like fort madison the best. good luck for you and stay healthy.
grete
There’s two camera at Ft Madison, Greta. Try
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOHhA_XIZZw— Donnawas this snow fall this year? here in my country snow comes usually in end of november, but the first snow has no quality. it mostly disappears after one or two days.. the most snow we receive in january. it is a hope that snow will come to christmas – this was in former years possible. but seasons have also changed.
i wish you a nice winter and be sure i will watch your landscape there each day, i feel like being an inhabitant of fort madison.
Greta — The first fall snowfall is light, just after October. We had an exceptional snowfall which you can see by the photo, 10-25-20. We hope to have a snowfall for the holidays, but often we have it for January, too.
Dear Donna! i wish you to have a very good new year , health, wealth an the fulfillment of all your desires.
Besides i have enjoyed to see the snowfall at your place since yesterday.
stay well and healthy!
Grete
Grete — after the fact, a White Christmas! Happy holidays!– Donna