The Illinois-Iowa Railfan

You older folks may know the answers to these questions, I probably don't.

1. Does anyone recall the CB&Q/BN Branch Line that went North from Creston, through Greenfield and then turned west to Massena and Cumberland? The Iowa DOT Office of Rail shows the segment from Cumberland to Greenfield abandoned in the 1980s. The segment from Greenfield to Rural Creston was abandoned in the 1990s and the rest of the Branch was abandoned North of Creston sometime between 2000 and Now. Does anyone have information on the Industries/Customers, Amt. of Trains a Day/Week, and/or Images from the Branchline? If so, please let me know.

2. Another branch that I am looking for information, especially photography from, well I should say multiple lines and branchlines, include the following:

MILW (The Milwaukee Road):
Culver Tower (Muscatine) to Washington
Elkader Branch (Froelich to Elkader, Abandoned in the 1970s.
Iowa Division Mainline (Segments between Sabula and Atkins especially)
Monticello Branch
Decorah Branch (Spillville to Decorah, Decorah to Postville)
Williamsburg Line (Cedar Rapids to Ottumwa) (CIC/MILW)
Woodward Branch (Ankeny to Woodward) (CNW/UP/MILW)

BCR&N/RI (Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railway - Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad):

Burlington Line (Burlington to Cedar Rapids) (BCR&N)
Fairfield Line (Ainsworth to Fairfield Segment) (RI)
Montezuma Line (Montezuma to Muscatine)
Iowa Jct Line (Cedar Rapids to Iowa Junction/River Junction) (CIC/RI)
Wilton Branch (Wilton Junction to Muscatine)
Muscatine North & South Railroad (Muscatine to Burlington)

Other Misc. Lines:

M&STL (Brighton to Keithsburg, IL)

The DOT Abandonments Map shows railroad lines running from:
*Muscatine to Davenport, via Sweetland Center and Blue Grass
*Stanwood to Tipton

ANY Information on the Trackage I have pointed out that would be Appreciated. Maps, Timetables with Towns/Sidings/Yards, Photographs/Pictures/Images, Rosters, and More are greatly accepted.

Thanks Folks.

Owen C. McCormick
Muscatine, Iowa USA
"Livin' on the IC&E, 2002-2008."

check out www.cnw-rail.com for pictures of the Woodward Line.