I'm hoping some folks in that area of the country can help me out here. I am unaware of how the Iowa Interstate stumbled up on the two Chinese QJ steam locomotives that I see all over YouTube. What is the deal with these two locomotives?
I know they are used for special passenger excursions and even double-headed to create the longest steam-pulled revenue freight train but what is the story behind the locomotives themselves? Are they on loan from a Chinese railroad or did the IAIS purchase them outright?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

You think your car gets bad mileage? SP 4449 consumes 10 gallons of bunker oil and 100 gallons of water every mile.