Iowa Northern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Iowa Northern Railway is a Class III shortline railroad operating in the U.S. state
of Iowa
.
to Cedar Rapids
line which was built in the 1870s by the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad. That line became part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
(Rock Island RR) and remained in Rock Island ownership until that company's bankruptcy in 1980.
On August 7, 1981 short line service between Cedar Rapids and Vinton
and from Shell Rock
to Nora Springs
started. By mid-1982, the operations had been connected and expanded to the present size. Iowa Northern Railway was incorporated in 1984, becoming one of the first short-line railroads in the state of Iowa and in July 1984 purchased its line from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad estate for $5.4 million.
The railroad was originally owned by a group of grain elevator
s located along the line but was sold in 1994 to Iron Road Railways
(IRR), a holding company based in Alexandria, Virginia
and Livonia, Michigan
. In July 1994, IANR abandoned a 14 miles (22.5 km) branch from Vinton to Dysart, Iowa
.
In 2002, following the bankruptcy and dissolution of IRR, the IANR was taken over by former IRR director Daniel Sabin.
in Cedar Rapids; with the Canadian National Railway
subsidiary Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad
in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo; with the Canadian Pacific Railway
subsidiary Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
) in Nora Springs; and with the Union Pacific Railroad
in Manly, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Belmond. The Oelwein Subdivision operates over 23 miles (37 km) and the Garner Subdision operates over 28 miles (45.1 km) of trackage with portions of travel via incidental trackage rights. The railroad employs 100 people, all located in Iowa. The railroad is headquartered in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Northern also has Customer Service and General Offices located in Greene, Iowa and its Bryant Yard Shops are located in Waterloo. Traffic consists of grain, ethanol and other biofuels related commodities, chemicals, food products, and machinery.
After the short line was established in 1984, the railroad handled 12,000 revenue cars and the average track speed was less than 10 mph (4.5 m/s). In 2006, traffic surged to 40,000 revenue cars and with increases in track speed on some sections to 30 mph (13.4 m/s).
in 1968. The Chicago and North Western was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. IANR operates freight service over a 23-mile line of railroad now owned by D&W Railroad
between Dewar and Oelwein and over incidental UP trackage rights
between Waterloo and Dewar. Traffic consists of repaired freight cars, grain and chemical products.
between Forest City
and Belmond, Iowa
, that it would access via trackage rights on the Canadian Pacific Railway
. Final details indicated that the North Central Iowa Rail Corridor LLC purchased the track for $1.5 million and signed a 10-year lease-to-own agreement with Iowa Northern Railway to operate the line.
On May 27, 2011 [Docket No. FD 35511 pp 31009] Iowa Northern Railway Company filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to operate approximately 27.83 miles of rail line owned by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP), referred to as the Forest City Line. The Forest City Line extends between milepost 48.12 at Belmond, Iowa, and milepost 79.95 at Forest City, Iowa, and includes 600 feet of connecting track at Garner, Iowa, in Hancock, Winnebago, and Wright Counties, Iowa.
In addition on May 27, 2011 [Docket No. FD 35511 pp 31010] Pursuant to a prospective trackage rights agreement, Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation d/b/a Canadian Pacific (CP) will agree to grant overhead trackage rights to Iowa Northern Railway Company (IANR) over approximately 78.2 miles of rail line between: (1) Milepost 137.50 near Garner, Iowa, and milepost 116.70 at the connection with CP’s Mason City Subdivision, a distance of approximately 20.80 miles; (2) milepost 116.70 at the connection with CP’s Mason City Subdivision and milepost 107.30 near Nora Jct., Iowa at the connection with IANR, a distance of approximately 30.2 miles between Garner and Nora Jct.; and (3) milepost 116.70 at the connection with CP’s Mason City Subdivision and milepost 7.9 on CP’s Austin Subdivision near Plymouth Jct., Iowa at the connection with IANR, a distance of approximately 27.2 miles between Garner and Plymouth Jct.
Operation of the Garner Subdivision began on November 4, 2011. IANR operates freight service over a 28-mile line of railroad now owned by North Central Iowa Rail Corridor LLC between Garner, Forest City and Belmond and includes incidental CP trackage rights
between Garner, Mason City and Nora Jct or Plymouth Jct. Traffic consists of grain, goods and RV truck products.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
History
The origin of the Iowa Northern Railway starts with the major portion of the ManlyManly, Iowa
Manly is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Manly is located at ....
to Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
line which was built in the 1870s by the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad. That line became part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
(Rock Island RR) and remained in Rock Island ownership until that company's bankruptcy in 1980.
On August 7, 1981 short line service between Cedar Rapids and Vinton
Vinton, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,257 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,299 housing units, of which 2,187 were occupied....
and from Shell Rock
Shell Rock, Iowa
Shell Rock is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,298 at the 2000 census. The city is located along the county's eastern border, between Butler and Bremer counties.-Geography:...
to Nora Springs
Nora Springs, Iowa
Nora Springs is a city in Cerro Gordo and Floyd Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, along the Shell Rock River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,532....
started. By mid-1982, the operations had been connected and expanded to the present size. Iowa Northern Railway was incorporated in 1984, becoming one of the first short-line railroads in the state of Iowa and in July 1984 purchased its line from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad estate for $5.4 million.
The railroad was originally owned by a group of grain elevator
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
s located along the line but was sold in 1994 to Iron Road Railways
Iron Road Railways
Iron Road Railways Incorporated was a railroad holding company which owned several short line railroads in the U.S. state of Maine, as well as the Canadian provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia....
(IRR), a holding company based in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
and Livonia, Michigan
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
. In July 1994, IANR abandoned a 14 miles (22.5 km) branch from Vinton to Dysart, Iowa
Dysart, Iowa
Dysart is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,303 at the 2000 census. The Mayor of Dysart is currently Don E. Lyons.-Geography:Dysart is located at ....
.
In 2002, following the bankruptcy and dissolution of IRR, the IANR was taken over by former IRR director Daniel Sabin.
Operations
Iowa Northern Railway operates 163 miles (262.3 km) in Iowa between Cedar Rapids in eastern Iowa and Manly in north central Iowa. The railroad connects with the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City RailwayCedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway
The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway , also known as the Crandic is a Class III railroad operating in the US state of Iowa.-History:...
in Cedar Rapids; with the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
subsidiary Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad
Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad was a Class II railroad operating on the former Illinois Central Railroad mainline between Chicago, Illinois, Albert Lea, Minnesota, Omaha, Nebraska, and Sioux City, Iowa. The railroad was formed as a spinoff from the IC, with operations beginning on...
in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo; with the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
subsidiary Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad was a Class II railroad operating in the north central United States. It has been controlled by the Canadian Pacific Railway and operated as a part of its system since October 30, 2008...
) in Nora Springs; and with the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
in Manly, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Belmond. The Oelwein Subdivision operates over 23 miles (37 km) and the Garner Subdision operates over 28 miles (45.1 km) of trackage with portions of travel via incidental trackage rights. The railroad employs 100 people, all located in Iowa. The railroad is headquartered in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Northern also has Customer Service and General Offices located in Greene, Iowa and its Bryant Yard Shops are located in Waterloo. Traffic consists of grain, ethanol and other biofuels related commodities, chemicals, food products, and machinery.
After the short line was established in 1984, the railroad handled 12,000 revenue cars and the average track speed was less than 10 mph (4.5 m/s). In 2006, traffic surged to 40,000 revenue cars and with increases in track speed on some sections to 30 mph (13.4 m/s).
Oelwein Subdivision
In October 2003, Iowa Northern Railway began freight operations over a 23 miles (37 km) line of the former Chicago Great Western Railroad (CGW). This CGW portion of the current rail structure was originally constructed in the 1880s. The Chicago Great Western Railroad merged with Chicago and North Western RailwayChicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
in 1968. The Chicago and North Western was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. IANR operates freight service over a 23-mile line of railroad now owned by D&W Railroad
D&W Railroad
-History:The D&W Railroad was formed in 2002 by TRANSCO Railway Products to acquire the rail line from Dewar to Oelwein, Iowa, from the Union Pacific Railroad in lieu of abandonment. D&W Railroad headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. In 2005 the railroad reorganized from D&W Railroad,...
between Dewar and Oelwein and over incidental UP trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
between Waterloo and Dewar. Traffic consists of repaired freight cars, grain and chemical products.
Garner Subdivision
On May 23, 2011, the railroad announced that the North Central Iowa Rail Corridor LLC planned to purchase about 28 miles (45.1 km) of trackage from the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
between Forest City
Forest City, Iowa
Forest City is a city in Hancock and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, and the county seat of Winnebago County. The population was 4,151 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 4,362 population in the 2000 census....
and Belmond, Iowa
Belmond, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 2,376 in the county, with a population density of . There were 1,197 housing units, of which 1047 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, that it would access via trackage rights on the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. Final details indicated that the North Central Iowa Rail Corridor LLC purchased the track for $1.5 million and signed a 10-year lease-to-own agreement with Iowa Northern Railway to operate the line.
On May 27, 2011 [Docket No. FD 35511 pp 31009] Iowa Northern Railway Company filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to operate approximately 27.83 miles of rail line owned by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP), referred to as the Forest City Line. The Forest City Line extends between milepost 48.12 at Belmond, Iowa, and milepost 79.95 at Forest City, Iowa, and includes 600 feet of connecting track at Garner, Iowa, in Hancock, Winnebago, and Wright Counties, Iowa.
In addition on May 27, 2011 [Docket No. FD 35511 pp 31010] Pursuant to a prospective trackage rights agreement, Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation d/b/a Canadian Pacific (CP) will agree to grant overhead trackage rights to Iowa Northern Railway Company (IANR) over approximately 78.2 miles of rail line between: (1) Milepost 137.50 near Garner, Iowa, and milepost 116.70 at the connection with CP’s Mason City Subdivision, a distance of approximately 20.80 miles; (2) milepost 116.70 at the connection with CP’s Mason City Subdivision and milepost 107.30 near Nora Jct., Iowa at the connection with IANR, a distance of approximately 30.2 miles between Garner and Nora Jct.; and (3) milepost 116.70 at the connection with CP’s Mason City Subdivision and milepost 7.9 on CP’s Austin Subdivision near Plymouth Jct., Iowa at the connection with IANR, a distance of approximately 27.2 miles between Garner and Plymouth Jct.
Operation of the Garner Subdivision began on November 4, 2011. IANR operates freight service over a 28-mile line of railroad now owned by North Central Iowa Rail Corridor LLC between Garner, Forest City and Belmond and includes incidental CP trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
between Garner, Mason City and Nora Jct or Plymouth Jct. Traffic consists of grain, goods and RV truck products.