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On December 6, 2023, Canadian National announced that it had signed and closed an agreement to acquire Iowa Northern Railway (IANR), a railroad started on August 7, 1981, by shippers on a recently closed route of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. Starting as a selection of isolated routes used to keep grain moving for a few elevators, by 2023 the IANR operated approximately 275 miles of track, serving a large number of shippers moving grain, ethanol, DDG (dry distillers grains), windmill components, farm equipment, fertilizers, and even intermodal containers.
The rail lines operated by the Iowa Northern date back to the mid-1800s and include some of the first rail lines built in the state. While most of the railroad consists of former Rock Island lines, tracks used also date back to the Chicago Great Western, Illinois Central, and the Milwaukee Road. The start of the construction of these lines took place about 150 years ago, but new tracks are still being built as new customers locate on the property.
With the end of the railroad near, it is time to update and publish this route guide, which was originally written for a series of excursion trains across the railroad. This book is written for those who want to know more about the various railroad routes owned and operated by the Iowa Northern Railway. It provides a history of the railroad and the various rail lines, plus a detailed guide of each route, helping to answer the questions of "Where are we and what once happened here?"
Enjoy this review of the Iowa Northern Railway, a unique opportunity to experience the history of Northeast Iowa.
About the author
Barton Jennings has years of experience in the transportation industry. He has also worked as a professor of supply chain management, taught transportation operations, and teaches regulatory workshops for the railroad industry. For fun, he rides trains and researches transportation history.
