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This week, BNSF Railway Co., in conjunction with Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. and Houston’s Port Terminal Railroad Association, is moving two Chinese steam locomotives from Houston to Rock Island, Ill., where they’ll be tested for Federal Railroad Administration compliance.

The QJ 2-10-2 locomotives were purchased by Railroad Development Corp. (RDC), a private rail management and investment company that owns or has financial interests in railroads in Argentina, Peru, Estonia, Mozambique, Malawi and the United States, including Iowa Interstate. RDC officials believe the locomotives could be placed in service by a regional or tourist railroad

The locomotives, one of which was the world’s last regularly scheduled mainline steam passenger train, arrived in the Houston port last weekend.