Western Railroad Discussion > Chicago and Northwestern Question?

The Chicago and Northwestern operated out of Chicago. The Northwestern's line into the Powder River Basin was open in 1984. I didn't notice any Northwestern Trackage between there and way west of Chicago. How did they operate between Chicago and the PRB? Trackage rights over UP's Central Corridor? Thank You,
-Andy

The Chicago & North Western's main line went to connections with the UP at Council Bluffs, Ia., and Fremont, Nebraska. Rather than rebuild its own line ("Cowboy") across northern Nebraska to reach the Powder River Basin, the C&NW negotiated a deal for UP to handle its coal business between the PRB and home rails. I believe the UP also was a primary source of capital for C&NW's PRB involvement, which was how it got a sizeable stake in the C&NW that ultimately led to purchase and merger.

Starting in August 1984, CNW delivered loaded Powder River coal trains to the UP at South Morrill, Nebraska. If the trains were headed for power plants on CNW in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois or Wisconsin, or if headed to interchange with other railroads which connected with CNW, those loaded trains would be returned to CNW at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The empty trains ran the reverse route.

The CNW loaded trains from the Basin destined to non-CNW locations would also be interchanged to UP at South Morrill, but never re-interchanged back to CNW (until the trains were returned empty). This included loaded trains going to Arknsas, San Antonio, etc., which ran via the UP through Kansas City.

Originally, CNW intended to rebuild the "Cowboy Line" between Chadron and Fremont, Nebraska, but that would have required a large FRA loan which could not be approved (I believe it would have been around $350 million). The compromise soltuion was to build the new connector line down to the UP at South Morrill (with money loaned by the UP).

Ironically, when CNW was planning for the Powder River in the 1970s, the Missouri Pacific was going to be it's first interchange partner, with the CNW-MP business being routed through Omaha.

If you are interested in the nuts and bolts of the whole process, seek out back issues of a couple of magazines....CTC Board circa 1985 "Project Yellow" detailed CNW's entry into the PRB....Trains circa February 1989 had an awesome Fred Frailey story on the whole Basin.

BobE

I have always wondered if C&NW would have stayed independently-minded and DID rebuild the "Cowboy" Line with non-UP money across Nebraska, if the merger with UP would have taken place. I wonder how much that single action of WRPI and the connector to little then-nondescript South Morrill, NE influenced the entire future history or history ending for C&NW? Just like I wonder how those bad midwestern floods, freak of nature or act of God, in which AT&SF had to do some amazing roundabout detours over BN influenced their working together more and ultimately merging? What about DM&E if C&NW would have rebuilt the "Cowboy"? The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, fighting DM&E tooth and nail now, would have had no worries as the line east of Rapid City likely would not even exist today as a thru route. -- -- -- -- -- JLH

The Northwestern could of, one of the problems though with rebuilding the cowboy line except the cost would be what to do with the coal trains once they reached Fremont Neb. The line from there to Mo. Valley is single track with a good size hill at Arlington. For those who are intersted check out the CNW HS's Nortwestern Lines Magazine Summer of 04 issue, the whole issue was dedicated to CNW's coal operation and how they planned to rebuild the cowboy line for coal trains. JC highgreengraphics Wrote:
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> I have always wondered if C&NW would have stayed
> independently-minded and DID rebuild the "Cowboy"
> Line with non-UP money across Nebraska, if the
> merger with UP would have taken place. I wonder
> how much that single action of WRPI and the
> connector to little then-nondescript South
> Morrill, NE influenced the entire future history
> or history ending for C&NW? Just like I wonder how
> those bad midwestern floods, freak of nature or
> act of God, in which AT&SF had to do some amazing
> roundabout detours over BN influenced their
> working together more and ultimately merging? What
> about DM&E if C&NW would have rebuilt the
> "Cowboy"? The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN,
> fighting DM&E tooth and nail now, would have had
> no worries as the line east of Rapid City likely
> would not even exist today as a thru route. -- --
> -- -- -- JLH