Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway
Encyclopedia
The Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway was a shortline Class III railroad
that handled freight switching operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa
. It operated from August 1989 until May 1991, when it was sold to the Council Bluffs Railway
, an OmniTRAX
subsidiary.
, the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway began operations on August 1, 1989, when it took over the operation of the former Iowa Southern Railroad
. The Iowa Southern once had operated a 61.5-mile former Norfolk and Western Railway
(and Wabash Railroad
prior to that) line between Council Bluffs, Iowa
and Blanchard, Iowa
, but in 1988, the Iowa Southern abandoned the line between Council Bluffs and Blanchard and scaled back its operations to just switching service in Council Bluffs.
At the time that the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway began operations in 1989, it was operating switching service on 27 miles of trackage inside of Council Bluffs. The railroad's headquarters were at the corner of 29th Avenue and High Street in Council Bluffs.
In May 1991, the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway's assets were sold to the Council Bluffs Railway
, a subsidiary of OmniTRAX
.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
that handled freight switching operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
. It operated from August 1989 until May 1991, when it was sold to the Council Bluffs Railway
Council Bluffs Railway
The Council Bluffs Railway was a shortline Class III railroad that handled freight switching operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It operated from May 1991 until July 2006, when it was sold to the Iowa Interstate Railroad...
, an OmniTRAX
OmniTRAX
OmniTRAX, Inc. is one of North America's largest private railroad and transportation management companies, providing management services to 16 regional and short-line railroads that serve 10 U.S...
subsidiary.
History
A subsidiary of National Railway Systems in Castle Rock, ColoradoCastle Rock, Colorado
The Town of Castle Rock is the county seat of Douglas County, Colorado, United States and is named for the prominent castle tower-shaped butte near the center of town. It is part of Colorado's Front Range Urban Corridor and is located roughly 28 miles south of Denver and 37 miles north of...
, the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway began operations on August 1, 1989, when it took over the operation of the former Iowa Southern Railroad
Iowa Southern Railroad
The Iowa Southern Railroad was a shortline railroad in southern Iowa, operating a former Wabash Railroad line between Council Bluffs and Blanchard. It was abandoned except at Council Bluffs on August 22, 1988, and in August 1990 the remaining trackage was sold to the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa...
. The Iowa Southern once had operated a 61.5-mile former Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
(and Wabash Railroad
Wabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
prior to that) line between Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
and Blanchard, Iowa
Blanchard, Iowa
Blanchard is a city in Page County, Iowa, United States. The population was 61 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Blanchard is located at .-Landmarks:...
, but in 1988, the Iowa Southern abandoned the line between Council Bluffs and Blanchard and scaled back its operations to just switching service in Council Bluffs.
At the time that the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway began operations in 1989, it was operating switching service on 27 miles of trackage inside of Council Bluffs. The railroad's headquarters were at the corner of 29th Avenue and High Street in Council Bluffs.
In May 1991, the Council Bluffs and Ottumwa Railway's assets were sold to the Council Bluffs Railway
Council Bluffs Railway
The Council Bluffs Railway was a shortline Class III railroad that handled freight switching operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It operated from May 1991 until July 2006, when it was sold to the Iowa Interstate Railroad...
, a subsidiary of OmniTRAX
OmniTRAX
OmniTRAX, Inc. is one of North America's largest private railroad and transportation management companies, providing management services to 16 regional and short-line railroads that serve 10 U.S...
.