|
Canadian Pacific Railway
Radio Frequencies:
160.770 MHz - Road Channel
161.370 MHz - Special Trains
The CP runs on the Kansas City Subdivision Mainline through Muscatine County. It enters from the East, just east
of Montpelier, and exits to the west near Fruitland. You can expect as many as 4 Trains-A-Day. Depending on Weather Conditions
and Available Freight, there are sometimes 5 Trains-A-Day, but not very often.
There are two switch engines usually that work the industries in the Muscatine and Fruitland Areas. One will
also make a run to Tyson Foods, A.K.A. IBP, in Columbus Junction, which is in Louisa County. Industries include Muscatine
Foods Corporation, Muscatine Power & Water, H.J. Heinz Co, IPSCO Steel-Montpelier, Union Tank Car Company, and On-Time
Delivery.
BNSF Railway operates Coal Trains from their Yards in Ottumwa, up the CP Main to Muscatine, then the trains will
back onto the Island Spur, which is lately only used for MP&W and Union Tank Car Company. The Trains must go around "Junkyard
Curve" in-order to get to the MP&W Power Plants.
The Union Pacific Railroad also operates Coal Trains. They will leave their Mainline at Clinton and head south
on the CP Mainline, running to Mid-American Energy near Fruitland. Mid-American Energy has a Spur of it's own, which has a
Wye for access.
IPSCO Steel is switched out of Davenport's Nahant Yard. Muscatine Switchers rarely ever switch IPSCO, which is
located Northwest of the village of Montpelier.
The Muscatine Switchers are responsible for all industries in Muscatine, Fruitland, and Columbus Junction. If
Industries were to pop-up in Letts, Fredonia, or Fairport, the Muscatine Switchers would most likely serve them.
160.770 MHz is usually used for all trains in the Muscatine Area. However, 161.370 MHz was used for the RiverWay
Excursions 1-2 Years ago, which means it is used for Special Trains.
|
 |
|
Iowa Interstate Railroad
161.220 MHz - Road Channel
160.305 MHz - Yard Channel (Iowa City, IA & Rock Island, IL)
The Iowa Interstate (IAIS) operates the old Rock Island Main, between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Blue Island, Illinois.
Which cuts through the northern area of Muscatine County. it enters the county, near Downey and West Liberty (From The West)
and Exits to the east near Stockton.
Industries along this line include the Grain Elevators in Atalissa, Durant, and Stockton, it is unknown if the
IAIS serves them as customers.
|
|
|
|
History of Muscatine Area Railroads:
The First Railroad to Serve Muscatine County appeared in the Mid-To-Late 1800s. That Railroad, known as the Mississippi
and Missouri Railroad, was to build across the State of Iowa, From Davenport to Council Bluffs. It started by Building the
Mainline from Davenport to Wilton Junction, then a branch from Wilton Jct. to Muscatine was built. The M&M Later Extended
to Iowa City, and planned to make it as far as Des Moines at least. Financial Problems came upon the M&M, and the New
Chicago, Rock Island, And Pacific Railroad absorbed it into their System.
The CRI&P Owned the First Railroad Bridge across the Mississippi River between Rock Island, IL and Davenport, IA.
The CRI&P did many things to Muscatine Area Rails on their system. The Muscatine North & South, which ran from Burlington,
through Sperry, Kingston, Wapello, Grandview, and Fruitland to Muscatine, was bought by the CRI&P in the 1920s or 1930s.
This line was abandoned in the 1940s.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids, & Northern Railway, owned a Line from Burlington to Cedar Rapids. It rain trains on
its line though Columbus Junction, Conesville, Nichols, and West Liberty. This was leased to the CRI&P, before being abandoned
in 1985-1986.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, Or "The Milwaukee Road" had a mainline from Davenport,
IA to Kansas City, MO. The CRI&P also had a line to KC. The MILW & RI were very busy in the Muscatine Area before
they went bankrupt in the 1980s. The MILW would share tracks with the CRI&P from Davenport to Muscatine, at "Culver
Tower", the MILW split from the CRI&P and went West, then SW to Washington, via Ardon, Cranston, Conesville, Gladwin,
and Bethel. Gladwin and Bethel were in Louisa County. The MILW's trackage from Muscatine to Washington was abandoned in the
1980s, after the SOO Line Railroad Company bought this line. The SOO bought the MILW & CRI&P Lines in Muscatine County
that still existed in the 1980s. The SOO only lasted until the Early-1990s, when the Canadian Pacific Railway bought the SOO.
The CP/SOO Operated the Davenport to Kansas City, MO Trackage, which consisted of the CRI&P Main from Muscatine to
Washington, then the MILW Main from Washington to Kansas City, until Early-To-Mid-1996. The Lines were sold to the Montana
Rail Link, who formed the I&M Rail Link. The IMRL lasted until 2002, when the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad
bought the IMRL. The DM&E formed the Iowa, Chicago, and Eastern Railroad. Yet, another change may happen soon, and the
new owners might surprise you. The DM&E was trying to expand to the Powder River Basin for Coal Shipping. The DM&E/IC&E
didnt have the funds, yet wanted to expand the project. They have decided to merge with the Canadian Pacific Railway once
again. The CP System will own both the IC&E & DM&E Mainlines if the Merger is approved by the U.S. STB. The CP
has already asked NRE (National Railway Equipment) in Silvis, Illinois for a lease of 50 Locomotives.
The CRI&P Also had a branch, co-owned by the BCR&N from Muscatine to Montezuma. It was abandoned completely in
the 1930s-1940s.
The Only Remaining Railroads in the Area are the Iowa Interstate, serving West Liberty, Atalissa, Moscow, Wilton, and
Durant. Also the IC&E/CP, serving Montpelier, Fairport, Muscatine, Fruitland, and Letts.
|
|
|
|
|
