CPKC 12th Street Bridge (Davenport)

In 1870, the Davenport and St. Paul Rail Road (D&StP) constructed an 31-mile railroad line, extending from Davenport, Iowa to Wheatland, Iowa.  The following year, an additional 21 miles were completed between Wheatland and Wyoming, Iowa.  In 1872, an additional 32 miles were completed to between Wyoming and Delhi, Iowa; followed by an additional 44 miles to Fayette, Iowa by the end of 1873.  The D&StP was sold to the Davenport and North Western Railway (D&NW) in 1876, which was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road) in 1879.  In 1880, the Milwaukee Road constructed an additional 28 miles between Fayette, Iowa and Jackson Junction, Iowa; where the line connected to an existing mainline.  By the late 19th Century, the Milwaukee Road had developed a large railroad network throughout the Midwest.  This line served as a secondary line, connecting northern Iowa to the Mississippi River at Davenport.  The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. 

Despite the financial strain, this line remained an important secondary line for the Milwaukee Road.  Financial hardship continued through the 20th Century for the Milwaukee Road.  In 1940, a segment between Dixon, Iowa and Oxford Junction, Iowa was abandoned.  In 1957, an additional segment between Center Junction, Iowa and Monticello, Iowa  was abandoned, followed by additional segments between Wyoming and Center Junction in 1965, Eldridge to Dixon in 1970 and to Oxford Junction and Center Junction in 1973.  A large segment between Hopkinton, Iowa and Jackson Junction was abandoned in 1976.  The Milwaukee Road again filed for bankruptcy in 1977. In 1979, the remainder of the line between Monticello and Hopkinton was abandoned.  By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986.  In 1997, CP would sell this line to I&M Rail Link, which was purchased by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) subsidiary Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E) in 2002.  The DM&E/IC&E were purchased by Canadian Pacific in 2008.  CP merged with Kansas City Southern Railway in 2023 to form CPKC, the current owner of the remaining line.  Today, CPKC operates the Eldridge Spur between Davenport and Eldridge.  The remainder of the line has been abandoned and largely reverted to adjacent property owners.