Quasqueton-Anomosa(iowa)line

[CNW_4009]

I noticed an abandoned rail line in the book Iowa's railroads which inside has a map of abandoned railroads in Iowa.  I used this site: http://dmampo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=2f28021e2a4247ef85e0870d3d2a6806 (historic aerial) however even though I went all the way down to the 1930's layer on historic aerials the line was still abandond, and I could not see any old industrys.  I also could not tell what railroad owned the route I think this line could have belonged to 3 railroads: ri, cnw, and though unlikely chicago milwaukee st.paul &pacific. Thanks

[blhanel]

Did alittle digging, and found this excerpt from a history of Quasqueton written in 1914:

"Perhaps one of the subjects of most interest to the people of Quasqueton and the county is the present Chicago, Anamosa and Northern Railroad, running from here to Anamosa, a distance of thirty eight miles. It may be said that this line was completed in the year of our Lord 1912, after a period of twenty eight years in the process of making. Surveys were made in 1858 for the Wapsipinicon Valley Railroad and the Wapsipinicon Valley Land Company issued scrip and tried to build the road. Two years previous, however, the Illinois Central had made surveys without doing much else in the way of getting a road completed. Surveys were then made in 1870-1-2 and a large amount of grading done for the Anamosa & Northwestern, but still Quasqueton did not procure a road for herself. In April, 1880, a tax was voted for the Chicago, Bellevue & Northern road and also, during the latter part of the year 1880, a survey was made for the Chicago & Manitoba road. Now Quasqueton has two trains a day, running on "sun" schedule. To undertake to tell of all of the surveys which were made, the subscription lists procured, the land donated, and the promises given, would fill a volume, for there was something new every year of the many years of preparation, and now that the road has rails down and the steam engines running, the town is not sure whether it feels elevated or not. One good feature, however, the road gives direct shipping connection with the Northwestern, so that goods billed to Chicago reach there on good time. This is the road's biggest asset. The company in the recent past, however, have entered the receiver's hands, so that it may not be long until old Quasque-on-the-Wapsie is again gunning for a new railroad line. The land for the right of way of this road was presented to the company, besides a substantial subscription list advanced."

[Murphy Siding]

CNW_4009

I noticed an abandoned rail line in the book Iowa's railroads which inside has a map of abandoned railroads in Iowa.  I used this site: http://dmampo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=2f28021e2a4247ef85e0870d3d2a6806 (historic aerial) however even though I went all the way down to the 1930's layer on historic aerials the line was still abandond, and I could not see any old industrys.  I also could not tell what railroad owned the route I think this line could have belonged to 3 railroads: ri, cnw, and though unlikely chicago milwaukee st.paul &pacific. Thanks

 

Interesting website. You say can go down to different layers of timeframe?  How do you do that?

[Murphy Siding]

blhanel

Did alittle digging, and found this excerpt from a history of Quasqueton written in 1914:

"Perhaps one of the subjects of most interest to the people of Quasqueton and the county is the present Chicago, Anamosa and Northern Railroad, running from here to Anamosa, a distance of thirty eight miles. It may be said that this line was completed in the year of our Lord 1912, after a period of twenty eight years in the process of making. Surveys were made in 1858 for the Wapsipinicon Valley Railroad and the Wapsipinicon Valley Land Company issued scrip and tried to build the road. Two years previous, however, the Illinois Central had made surveys without doing much else in the way of getting a road completed. Surveys were then made in 1870-1-2 and a large amount of grading done for the Anamosa & Northwestern, but still Quasqueton did not procure a road for herself. In April, 1880, a tax was voted for the Chicago, Bellevue & Northern road and also, during the latter part of the year 1880, a survey was made for the Chicago & Manitoba road. Now Quasqueton has two trains a day, running on "sun" schedule. To undertake to tell of all of the surveys which were made, the subscription lists procured, the land donated, and the promises given, would fill a volume, for there was something new every year of the many years of preparation, and now that the road has rails down and the steam engines running, the town is not sure whether it feels elevated or not. One good feature, however, the road gives direct shipping connection with the Northwestern, so that goods billed to Chicago reach there on good time. This is the road's biggest asset. The company in the recent past, however, have entered the receiver's hands, so that it may not be long until old Quasque-on-the-Wapsie is again gunning for a new railroad line. The land for the right of way of this road was presented to the company, besides a substantial subscription list advanced."

 

That was more fun when I read it in an old english accent- 'Hear ye, hear ye, in the year of our Lord 1912..."  

[mudchicken]

Built 1903?

The thing did not last too long... It's connections were gone at Anamosa by 1949 (CNW*, was denied abandonment in 1944) and 1939(MILW)...

Chicago Animosa & Northern was gone and scrapped by 1916 (The next time I get near a set of Poor's Manuals, I'll look 'em up. Doesn't show up in the ICC Card Index that I have at all. )

Crossed the IC (now CN) Cedar Rapids Branch at Central City/Coggon, but there is zero evidence of a connection 1903-1916. Curious.

Fun on Buffalo Creek and the Wapsipinicon River...."Quasque-on-the-Wapsie"....Clearly shows up on the 1970's USGS 7.5 minute quads.

There is an old thread on here 2003-2018 about "The CAN"....

 

(*) CNW Anamosa Branch Clinton/Lyons to Anamosa was built by the Iowa Midland Ry by 5-21-1871, to Mississippi Maquoketa & NW (2/8/71) to Iowa Central Air Line RR to CNW (10-24-1884)

[CNW_4009]

To go back in years click the layers drop down it will show the options for the different years, which are:1930,1950,1960,1970,1980(this is the only colored one), and 1990

[CNW_4009]

Did the "can" have a connection with th Burlington CeaderRapids and Northern?

[mudchicken]

From Poors Manual 1916 (Vol 49) Pg 2044

Chicago Animosa & Northern RY

35.3 Miles (Anamosa to Quasqueton, IA)

Under construction: Quasqueton to Waterloo, IA

Chartered Dec. 21, 1903

First Train/ Opened December 20, 1904

3 locomotives, 2 combination cars and 10 freight cars ( 5 flat, 5 box)

Sold January 1914 to Geo B Caldwell & Louis E. Meyers of Chicago, acquired the road at auction as settlement for $252,030.00 debt to same...

The company was placed in the hands of receiver F G Farmer of Anamosa IA as of 2-21-1914

No sign of the CAN after 1916...."poof!"

Connected with CNW and MILW at Anamosa and IC at Coggin...no connection w/ BCR&N (too far south)

[Victrola1]

"CAN Road Rails to Be Shipped Across the Ocean."

"From the Iowa Farmlands to the Battlefields of Europe."

"Were Bought as Junk."

"New York, Dec. 21 - Bought as "junk" the Chicago Anamosa and Northern, otherwise known as the "Can," road has been resold and will be torn up, and with its rails and rolling stock shipped to England and relaid, according to its owner, Herman (illegible)."

Cedar Rapids Republican, Dec. 22, 1916, page 1. 

It was more valuable as scrap in England during the struggle to defeat the "Huns." 

[Patchboy]

Hello...it's been 16 years since I responded to a "CAN" related post back in October 2003...

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/7144/53728.aspx#53728

I've accumulated a lot of information and some photos on the Chicago, Anamosa and Northern railway since then if anyone is interested...I'll share what I have...I'm now at [e-mail]

This railroad ran by my great grandfather's farm in Coggon, Iowa...the map below is from 1906 and the CAN railway and station location is in the upper left.  You can also see where the Illinois Central crossed the CAN right of way...at one time the Illinois Central parked a locomotive at the crossing of the CAN tracks to protest the CAN's operation.

[CNW_4009]

Interesting!