Iowa
Northern Railway - (en)
The Iowa Northern Railway (AAR reporting marks IANR) is a Class III
railroad.
History
The orgin of the Iowa Northern Railway starts with the major portion of
the Manly to Cedar Rapids line was built in the in the 1870’s by the
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. That line became part of
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island RR). 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. In July 1984, the company
purchased its line from the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railroad estate for $5.4 million. During this time the Iowa Northern
Railway was incorporated in 1984 and is one of the first short-line
railroads in the state of Iowa. The railroad was originally owned by a
group of grain dealers located along the line. The line was sold in 1994
to the Iron Road Railway Company, which is headquartered in Livonia,
Michigan. In July 1994, IANR abandoned a 14 mile branch from Vinton to
Dysart, IA. Today, the Iowa Northern Railway is under Sabin Family
ownership and management.
Operations
Iowa Northern Railway operates 162 miles in Iowa between Cedar Rapids in
south eastern Iowa and Manly in north central Iowa. The railroad connects
with the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railroad (CIC)or know as the CRANDIC
in Cedar Rapids; with the Canadian National (former Illinois
Central/Chicago Central and Pacific) in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo; with
the Iowa Chicago and Eastern (former I & M Rail Link) in Nora Springs;
and with the Union Pacific in Manly, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, IA. The
railroad employs over 50 people, all located in Iowa. The railroad is
headquartered in Cedar Rapids. With General Offices / Customer Service
located in Greene and Bryant Yard Shops located in Waterloo. Present day
traffic consists/handled by the IANR include grain, chemicals, food
products, and machinery.
Oelwein Subdivision
In October 2003, Iowa Northern Railway began freight operations over a 23
mile line of the former Chicago Great Western Railroad (CGW). This CGW
portion of the current rail structure was originally constructed in the
1880’s. The Chicago Great Western Railroad merged with Chicago and North
Western in 1968. The Chicago and North Western has since merged with 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 freight car, grain and chemical products.
