Unexpected smoke, no mirrors

While enroute to Minnesota, and watching for wind farms, we encounter a steam (coal-fired?) locomotive, west of Des Moines, Thursday, November 11:

Click to enlarge.

Smoke trail of the train. (This needs some research; is this some sort of historical reenactment?)

Aha, found it, cached (the paint-brushed background indicates what terms I used to search for):

November 11-13: Iowa Interstate QJ Steam Excursion

QJ 2-10-2 steam locomotive #7801 leads a round-trip from Des Moines to Council Bluffs, Iowa

For more information: Rock Island Technical Society

Clicking the last link:

Breaking News!

When did you last ride behind a steam Engine? You can have a chance to ride from Des Moines, IA to Council Bluffs, IA behind the IAIS No. 7801. This 2-10-2 was built in China and purchased by the IAIS in 2005. The IAIS has donated 20 tickets to RITS with the proceeds going to support the museum/company store in Savanna. The ticket price is $175 round trip and $100 one way. 

The train departs Des Moines at 10:00 AM on Thursday, November 11, 2010 and arrives in Council Bluffs around 4:00 PM.

So, that was indeed a steam engine with vintage passenger cars. How neat must that have been? Click for more pictures of the engine and train. And more.