Mark Valerius Wrote:
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> Thanks for the clarification Hank. Had forgotten
> about the CRIP being in the area. Am more familiar
> with the CRIP east of central corn patch, growing
> up and living in the QC.
Note: All of my books are currently in boxes at my new place so all of this is from memory. Mistakes are probable.
Called the "Spine Line" in the late 1970's & 80's, this was one of CRI&P's most important lines at the end. It was the only one fought over by major lines (C&NW & KCS, et al) in the division or RI trackage in the early '80s. The section through Nevada was part of the last section completed (Mason City to Lineville, Iowa) in 1910-11, just about the only thing the so-called "Big Four from the Prairies" (Reid-Moore syndicate) did in their control (1902-15) of RI that stood the test of time. (note: IMHO, this syndicate, which took the RI from a profitable, well run Granger road to a shambling wreck laid the foundation for the eventual death of the RI)
Originally called the Short Line, it connected at Mason City with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern(built in the 1870's. Controlled by CB&Q & C&RI until about 1902 when the Q sold their half interest to RI. Route of the
Zepyhr-Rocket streamliner from MSP to St Louis until the 1960's. A much missed train.) main from Burlington to Albert Lea, Minnnesota. From Albert Lea to MSP the RI had already built a line (1902) because they were fed up with the M&StL as a connection. At Lineville (just north of the Missouri border) it connected with the RI line from Davenport to ST Joseph & KC (built in the 1870's) and thence to Dallas & Tucumcari (orig a RI subsidiary called Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska, construction started in 1886-87, completed after the Silver Panic of the 1890's). This was the route of such trains as the
Short Line Limited (MSP- KC daytime train) ,
Mid-Continent Special (MSP to Houston, heavy weight era) and the streamliner
Twin Star Rocket. The TSR was one on the last pre-Amtrak RI island passenger trains to come off (1970). A train that was much missed by the older folks in my teen-age years.
The M&StL line through Marshalltown, from Albert Lea to Albia, Iowa (Wabash connection to St Louis, onetime route of the heavy-weight era
North Star Limited) + line from Oskaloosa to Peoria, Illinois, was the old Iowa Central (1870's) purchased by M&StL early in the 20th century. A beloved Railroad locally, most of the old IC has been abandoned. The last I knew, several years ago, Mason City-Albert Lea & Marshalltown-Albia were still in use but that was over 15 years ago.
Hank
