Unofficial Web Page

 

Welcome to the IMRL Unofficial Web Page

CONTENTS

Motive Power
Detailed Locomotive Roster & Photographs
Locomotive Roster Summary
Rolling Stock
Freight Car Roster 
Freight Car Photographs

Photo Archive
Train Action Photographs

System Information
Radio Frequencies
System Map

Timetable
Train Symbols 

Modeling
Scale Modeling Information

Misc. Information
News & Links
Contributors

BRIEF HISTORY

The I&M Rail Link, owned by the Washington Corporation, operated 1,385 miles of trackage in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The lines were acquired in  from the Canadian Pacific Railway, which were originally built by the Milwaukee Road and its predecessors. The railroad commenced operations at 12:01 p.m. April 5, 1997.

Canadian Pacific Railway retained a 33% ownership in the new company leaving the Washington Corp. with the remaining 67%. The new railroad was headquartered in Davenport, IA, with Nahant Yard becoming the base for most operations and locomotive maintenance. Heavy locomotive repairs were handled by National Railway Equipment in Silvis, IL. Train dispatching was first handled by the Canadian Pacific, but those duties were later performed by the Montana Rail Link in Missoula, MT, which is another Washington Corp. subsidiary.  IMRL's principal commodities included steel, coal, agricultural and chemical products. The railroad operated with 2,284 freight cars and 118 locomotives. Train operations continued much as they did during Soo Line and CP Rail ownership. 

In late 2001 the Washington Corp. looked to divest itself of the railroad claiming it unprofitable. On July 29, 2002 the assets of the I&M Rail Link, LLC were officially transferred to the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern, which is owned by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern subsidiary, Cedar American Railroad Holdings. Operations were curtailed at 12:01 p.m. on that date.

 

 

QUICK LINKS

IMRL Mailing List
Excellent source for historic information on the I&M Rail Link.
IlliniRail.com
Information on railroading in Illinois.
IlliniRail Discussion List
Discussion of the railroads that operate in Illinois.
Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad
Corporate site of the company that now operates IMRL lines.
IC&E Discussion List
Discussion on current operations of the former IMRL.
RailroadData.com
Railroad Web Site Search Engine
Railserve
Railroad Web Site Search Engine
Regional and Short Line Modelers Mailing List
Discussion of the unique aspects involved in modeling shortlines and regionals

This page is not affiliated or sponsored by the Washington Corporation nor the I&M Rail Link Railroad.
Train GIF's displayed on this site provided by Chris Denbow and Eric Rasmussen.    


©2000 JGKirchner
Revised January 06, 2006

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