Appanoose County Community Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Appanoose County Community Railroad is based out of Centerville, Iowa
. It is a shortline running to the community of Albia, Iowa
, where it distributes cars from Centerville to be put on the BNSF Railway
's trains.
The railroad was hit hard when the local Rubbermaid plant in Centerville (APNC's premier customer) closed its doors on September 15, 2006. At least 75% of the cargo hauled by the shortline was from Rubbermaid. The railroad is partly operated by the county, and there are a few other industries in the same area, so the railroad may survive.
Going north, the APNC is now on ex-NS/N&W/Wabash trackage. The line passes over state highway 2, through the town of Udell, and crosses over the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern railroad at grade, before entering Moravia. Here there is a restored station, and a siding, which is used for run-around movements during the railroad's annual excursion train rides.
After leaving Moravia, the line continues north into Monroe County. The next town is Albia, and is also the northern terminus of the railroad. Here there is a small yard, where cars from Centerville are exchanged with the BNSF Railway.
In 2005, a new RELCO locomotive facility opened in Albia, and is directly off the APNC route on the southern edge of town. RELCO leases, rebuilds and repairs locomotives from all around the country. Many different locomotives have been repaired here, including units owned by BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX
, and Amtrak
. RELCO also receives new locomotives en route and tests them on their tracks, and perhaps over the APNC as well. Some of Montana Rail Link's and Norfolk Southern's new SD70ACe locomotives were tested in Albia before they were put into regular service.
(IC&E) passes through and crosses over the APNC just a little ways south of Moravia. The IC&E travels between Kansas City
and Chicago. It is the former I&M Rail Link
, and even earlier than that it was the Milwaukee Road.
BNSF Railway
's mainline between Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska
, splits in Albia, Iowa. The southern mainline track goes through a cutting and under Albia. The APNC railroad track crosses over this mainline track. This BNSF mainline was once the Burlington Northern Railroad
, and even earlier than that it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
, better known as the "Burlington Route".
The APNC Railroad ends in Albia. However, the tracks continue on. BNSF owns these tracks and it is their only route to Des Moines
. It is single track the entire way.
s. When they were purchased they were high-nosed, as are most GP7s. Today both engines have their noses lowered about like the nose on a standard GP38-2
. At first the engines were colored red with a white outline of Iowa below the cab's side windows, with the letters "APNC" in the outline. The engine's number was along the side of the locomotive. Today the paint scheme has changed. The engines are still mostly red, but there is a white stripe running down the center side of the engine, and there are white stripes on the front and rear nose of the engine, much like the stripes on the nose of many Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP7s. The engine number has now moved below the Iowa outline (not altered). Bright red "APNC" letters have been put on the white stripe along the side of the engine.
The APNC railroad passes through four Iowa towns: Centerville
, Udell
, Moravia
and Albia
.
Centerville, Iowa
Centerville is a city in and the county seat of Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 5,924 in the 2000 census. After the turn of the 20th century Centerville had a booming coal mining industry that attracted many European immigrants...
. It is a shortline running to the community of Albia, Iowa
Albia, Iowa
Albia is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albia's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.026600, −92.805262....
, where it distributes cars from Centerville to be put on the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
's trains.
The railroad was hit hard when the local Rubbermaid plant in Centerville (APNC's premier customer) closed its doors on September 15, 2006. At least 75% of the cargo hauled by the shortline was from Rubbermaid. The railroad is partly operated by the county, and there are a few other industries in the same area, so the railroad may survive.
Route of the APNC
The APNC comprises routes formerly owned by 3 railroads: the Norfolk Southern, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Burlington Northern. Starting from the Centerville industrial park, the APNC runs over 4 miles (6.4 km) of ex-BN trackage south, followed by 5 miles (8 km) of ex Rock Island east. At a point known as Moulton Junction, the two railroads, Norfolk Southern, and the Rock Island, met. Today, only one part of two of the original routes through here remain. This is where the APNC turns to the north. Until recently, a switchback was still located at this point, and the trains had to stop, reverse and couple up to their consist on the other end before continuing up the line. This has been replaced with one sweeping curve, and there is no longer an actual junction at Moulton Junction.Going north, the APNC is now on ex-NS/N&W/Wabash trackage. The line passes over state highway 2, through the town of Udell, and crosses over the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern railroad at grade, before entering Moravia. Here there is a restored station, and a siding, which is used for run-around movements during the railroad's annual excursion train rides.
After leaving Moravia, the line continues north into Monroe County. The next town is Albia, and is also the northern terminus of the railroad. Here there is a small yard, where cars from Centerville are exchanged with the BNSF Railway.
In 2005, a new RELCO locomotive facility opened in Albia, and is directly off the APNC route on the southern edge of town. RELCO leases, rebuilds and repairs locomotives from all around the country. Many different locomotives have been repaired here, including units owned by BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. RELCO also receives new locomotives en route and tests them on their tracks, and perhaps over the APNC as well. Some of Montana Rail Link's and Norfolk Southern's new SD70ACe locomotives were tested in Albia before they were put into regular service.
Other railroads in the area
There are other railroads that the APNC passes over or travels by. The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern RailroadIowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad was a Class II railroad operating in the north central United States. It has been controlled by the Canadian Pacific Railway and operated as a part of its system since October 30, 2008...
(IC&E) passes through and crosses over the APNC just a little ways south of Moravia. The IC&E travels between Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and Chicago. It is the former I&M Rail Link
I&M Rail Link
The I&M Rail Link was a railroad operating in the north central portion of the United States. The company commenced operations on April 5, 1997, acquiring lines from the Canadian Pacific Railway and Soo Line Railroad....
, and even earlier than that it was the Milwaukee Road.
BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
's mainline between Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, splits in Albia, Iowa. The southern mainline track goes through a cutting and under Albia. The APNC railroad track crosses over this mainline track. This BNSF mainline was once the Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
, and even earlier than that it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
, better known as the "Burlington Route".
The APNC Railroad ends in Albia. However, the tracks continue on. BNSF owns these tracks and it is their only route to Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. It is single track the entire way.
The APNC's locomotives
The APNC owns two locomotives. They are both GP7EMD GP7
The EMD GP7 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel between October, 1949 and May, 1954. Power was provided by an EMD 567B 16-cylinder engine which generated . The GP7 was offered both with and without control cabs, and...
s. When they were purchased they were high-nosed, as are most GP7s. Today both engines have their noses lowered about like the nose on a standard GP38-2
EMD GP38-2
An EMD GP38-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier GP38...
. At first the engines were colored red with a white outline of Iowa below the cab's side windows, with the letters "APNC" in the outline. The engine's number was along the side of the locomotive. Today the paint scheme has changed. The engines are still mostly red, but there is a white stripe running down the center side of the engine, and there are white stripes on the front and rear nose of the engine, much like the stripes on the nose of many Missouri-Kansas-Texas GP7s. The engine number has now moved below the Iowa outline (not altered). Bright red "APNC" letters have been put on the white stripe along the side of the engine.
Excursion trains
Every July, the APNC Railroad offers train rides from Moravia, Iowa. Passengers can purchase tickets at the renovated Moravia Depot that is right along the APNC's mainline. The train travels from Moravia to Albia. Several different trains are operated per day, and one of the two GP7s will pull them.The APNC railroad passes through four Iowa towns: Centerville
Centerville, Iowa
Centerville is a city in and the county seat of Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 5,924 in the 2000 census. After the turn of the 20th century Centerville had a booming coal mining industry that attracted many European immigrants...
, Udell
Udell, Iowa
Udell is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 58 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Udell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Moravia
Moravia, Iowa
Moravia is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 713 at the 2000 census.-History:Moravia is named for the religious faith. Moravian families left Salem, North Carolina in 1849 to start a colony in the west. Money was sent to purchase forty acres of land for a town site...
and Albia
Albia, Iowa
Albia is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albia's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.026600, −92.805262....
.