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Story Name
Railroad
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Valuation Section(s)
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South/West Terminal
North/East Terminal
Description
CGW (WM&P) route between Winona, Minnesota and Osage, Iowa via Le Roy, Minnesota
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<p>In 1890, the Winona & Southwestern Railway (W&SW) began construction of 114 miles of new railroad extending from Winona, Minnesota to Osage, Iowa. The new line would be completed in 1891, and the W&SW would be sold to the Winona & Western Railway Company in 1894. The W&W would be sold to the Wisconsin, Minnesota & Pacific (WM&P) Railroad Company in 1901. The WM&P was subsequently leased by the Chicago Great Western Railway (CGW) the same year. The CGW would be reorganized as the Chicago Great Western Railroad (CGW) in 1909. The CGW had acquired and constructed a modest railroad network throughout Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri; connecting major cities in these states. The CGW was one of the smaller railroads in the area, and was late to develop lines. As a result, the railroad never saw the fortunes of other railroads in the area. </p><p>This line served as a secondary route for the CGW, and was never extended further. In 1920, the WM&P was consolidated into the CGW. By 1936, a segment from Winona to Altura would be abandoned. In the early 20th Century, the CGW was often surviving on razor-thin profit margins. In 1940, the CGW entered bankruptcy, and was again reorganized as the Chicago Great Western Railway. After the bankruptcy, the CGW became an innovative railroad, pioneering intermodal service and becoming one of the first railroads to completely switch to diesel locomotives. A capital improvement program was launched in 1949, which sought to rebuild and rehabilitate deteriorated infrastructure. The segment from Altura to Utica was abandoned in 1962, and the segment from McIntyre, Iowa to Osage in 1964. In 1968, the CGW would be purchased by the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW). Further abandonments were made between Utica and Simpson in 1969 and Stewartville and McIntyre in 1977. Today, the entirety of the line has been abandoned, although many remains of the line can still be found. </p>
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