DUBUQUE AND IOWA FALLS RAILROAD

DUBUQUE AND IOWA FALLS RAILROAD. The DUBUQUE AND PACIFIC RAILROAD was organized on April 22, 1857 under the leadership of John T. Dyer and Platt SMITH. They raised money during the first year but had laid no rail by the end of the year. The following year, rail was laid west from Dubuque to Dyersville. The Panic of 1857 and the CIVIL WAR resulted in all railroad building in Iowa being stopped. (1)

Platt Smith took over the line, renamed it the Dubuque and Iowa Falls Railroad, and promised that the rail would reach Iowa Falls by 1867. The first survey of the DUBUQUE AND SIOUX CITY RAILROAD was made in 1857, but it was not until 1866 that the first train reached Iowa Falls. On April 15 there was a large crowd of people at the depot awaiting its arrival. A three-day celebration was held, with a special excursion train running from Dubuque to Iowa Falls on April 24. Both the Dubuque Herald and Dubuque Times carried stories of the celebration. Evening entertainment, dinner and dancing were held at Sayer's Hall. The following day the excursion returned to Dubuque where another grand celebration was held. (2)

The corporate history of the Dubuque and Sioux City involves 10 predecessor companies. The property of the Dubuque and Sioux City was operated by the Illinois Central continuously since October 1, 1867, with the exception of the period between October 1, 1887, and March 15, 1888. (3)

The Dubuque and Pacific Rail Road Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, May 19, 1853. Sold at foreclosure to the Dubuque and Sioux City, August 21, 1860.

Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, October 1, 1867. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, October 23, 1888.

Cedar Rapids & Chicago Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, September 24, 1886. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, October 27, 1888.

Cherokee & Dakota Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, July 15, 1887. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, October 29, 1888.

Cedar Falls and Minnesota Rail Road Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, August 20, 1858. Sold at foreclosure June 1, 1896. Acquired by the Dubuque and Sioux City, June 15, 1896.

Fort Dodge and Omaha Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, September 14, 1898. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, June 22, 1900.

Stacyville Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, October 14, 1897. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, April 6, 1903.

Albert Lea and Southern Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Minnesota, September 23, 1899. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, April 20, 1908.

Cedar Falls & New Hartford Railroad Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, January 6, 1903. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, June 30, 1904.

Cedar Falls and North Eastern Rail Road Company. Incorporated under general laws of Iowa, August 30, 1904. Conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City, May 4, 1905.

The recorded mileage of the Dubuque and Sioux City amounted to 760.98 miles, which was acquired partly by construction, partly by purchase, and partly through reorganization. The inventoried mileage was 760.902.

Immediately after acquiring the property of The Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Company, construction work started on the line west of Jesup, Iowa, and was completed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1861, and to Iowa Falls, Iowa, in 1866, making a continuous line of road westerly from Dubuque, Iowa. The operated mileage was further increased during the period from 1866 to 1870 by leasing the property of the Cedar Falls & New Hartford Railroad Company.

Development of the property west of Iowa Falls, Iowa, undertaken by the Dubuque and Sioux City, was suspended after an expenditure of $202,964.97, and Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company was organized to complete the extension of the road to the Missouri River. Upon completion of construction of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company in 1870, the Illinois Central operated the line under lease to October 23, 1888, when it was conveyed to the Dubuque and Sioux City.

The roads of other companies acquired, were developed in the interest of the Dubuque and Sioux City and the Illinois Central.

In February 1903 the Dubuque and Sioux City acquired terminal property at Council Bluffs, Iowa, from the Omaha Bridge and Terminal. On the same date that company granted to the Dubuque and Sioux City the right to use its bridge over the Missouri River, and tracks and other facilities in Omaha, Nebr. The rights thus acquired were assigned to the Illinois Central.

---

Source:

1. "Iron Horse Crosses Boone," Hamilton County IAGenWeb. Online: http://iagenweb.org/hamilton/IronHorseCrossesBoone.htm

2. A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary--Iowa Falls, Iowa. Railroad Era: 1866 to 1909 Online: http://www.iafalls.com/historic/railroad_era.html

3. Wikimedia: WikiProject Trains. Online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Trains/ICC_valuations/Dubuque_and_Sioux_City_Railroad