Owatonna Subdivision

The Owatonna Subdivision or Owatonna Sub is a railway line in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota owned and operated by the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad (IC&E) subsidiary of Canadian Pacific. It extends about 124 miles (200 km) from Mason City, Iowa in the south to a junction at Comus north of Faribault, Minnesota.[1] U.S. Highway 218 closely follows the rail line between Lyle, Minnesota and Owatonna.

Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad Owatonna Subdivision
north Union Pacific Railroad 123.8 Comus Union Pacific Railroad 116.9 Faribault 107.8 Medford west DM&E/CP Waseca Subdivision 101.9 Owatonna east DM&E/CP Waseca Subdivision 84.2 Blooming Prairie 75.0 Lansing 40.4 Ramsey Junction Jackson Subdivision 40.4 Austin 35.6 Varco west Cedar River Railroad/Canadian National Railroad 21.3 Lyle, Minnesota Cedar River Railroad/Canadian National Railroad Minnesota/Iowa border 21.3 Carpenter, Iowa 14.8 Grafton 8.4 Plymouth 7.4 Plymouth Junction Iowa Northern Railway 0.5 Union Pacific Railroad 0.0 Mason City, Iowa to Mason City Subdivision

Most of the line is dark territory, meaning that it is not signaled or equipped with centralized traffic control or automatic block signaling systems. The line is dispatched via radio using track warrant control.

This line had been under control of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) for many years, then became part of the Canadian Pacific system. Canadian Pacific eventually sold off the line to I&M Rail Link in 1997, a company 67% owned by Washington Corporation (CP retained the remaining 33% ownership). Washington Corporation divested itself of I&M, so the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern was formed in 2002. The IC&E was owned by the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad holding company Cedar American Railroad Holdings. In 2007, Canadian Pacific moved to purchase DM&E and its related companies, which was completed in 2008.[2]

About four trains a day, carrying mostly agricultural products, operate on the line.[3]

References

1. J. G. Kirchner (July 23, 2003). "System Timetable – Owatonna Subdivision". IC&E Unofficial Web Page. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
2. J. G. Kirchner (January 6, 2006). "Brief History". I&M Rail Link Unofficial Web Page. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
3. Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul, MN (2009)."Freight Rail Supply and Demand; Draft Technical Memorandum." Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan. p. 3-15.