CGW Stone Arch (Dodge Center)

In 1885, the Minnesota and Northwestern Railway (M&NW) constructed 129 miles of new railroad, extending from St. Paul, Minnesota to Manly, Iowa.  In 1885, the  built 129 miles of new railroad between St. Paul, Minnesota and Manly, Iowa; running through towns such as Austin, Minnesota. By 1887, the M&NW would be merged with the Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway Company (CStP&KC), which would in turn be purchased by the Chicago Great Western Railway (CGW) in 1893. In 1901, 9 additional miles would be constructed between Manly and Mason City, Iowa by the Mason City & Fort Dodge Railway (MC&FD). The MC&FD would be leased by the CGW the same year. In 1902, the CGW would sell the Hayfield, Minnesota to Manly segment to the leased MC&FD.  In 1909, the CGW was reorganized as the Chicago Great Western Railroad. 

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.  This line served as a principal mainline for the CGW, connecting St. Paul to the Council Bluffs, Iowa mainline and several branch lines.  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.  

In 1968, the CGW was purchased by the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW).  The C&NW already owned a better constructed route between the Twin Cities and Mason City.  As a result, track conditions on this line deteriorated, and the line was reduced to a secondary line for the C&NW.  In 1977, a segment between Hayfield, Minnesota and Austin, Minnesota was abandoned; followed by the Austin to Manly segment in 1981.  After the C&NW purchased the largely parallel Rock Island "Spine Line" in 1981, this line became excess.  The Randolph, Minnesota to Hayfield segment was abandoned in 1982, followed by the Roseport, Minnesota to Randolph segment in 1984.  In 1995, the C&NW was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad, which continues to operate two of the segments in 2023. The Mason City to Manly segment is operated as part of the Albert Lea Subdivision, and the St. Paul to Roseport segment as the Roseport Industrial Lead. The remainder of the route has been abandoned, with many sections completely removed without a trace.