BNSF Stone Arch Culvert (Cordova)

In 1855, the Racine and Mississippi Rail Road (R&MRR) constructed 69 miles of new railroad, extending from Lake Michigan at Racine, Wisconsin; to Beloit, Wisconsin.  The railroad would be reorganized as the Racine and Mississippi Railroad (R&M) in 1856.  In 1857, the R&M completed an additional 35 miles of railroad to Freeport, Illinois.  Between 1861 and 1865, the Northern Illinois Railroad (NIR) completed an additional 76 miles between Freeport and Port Byron, Illinois, running through Savanna, Illinois. In 1862, the Warsaw, Rock Island and Galena Railroad (WRI&G) constructed an additional 9 miles from Port Byron to Rock Island, Illinois.  The NIR became part of the Western Union Rail Road (WURR) in 1866, the R&M was consolidated into the WURR in 1868 and the WRI&G was consolidated in 1872.  In 1879, the railroad would be leased by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, known as the Milwaukee Road.  The railroad would be purchased outright by the Milwaukee Road in 1900.  The railroad connected to the Davenport, Rock Island & North Eastern Railway (DRI&NW) at East Moline.

The Milwaukee Road had become a prominent railroad in the United States, operating a network of railroad lines primarily in the Midwest.  The railroad sought for a shortened route for traffic going between Chicago and Kansas City.  In addition to constructing a new line in Iowa, the Milwaukee Road built a cutoff between Ashdale Junction and Ebners in 1902.  This line allowed trains to bypass the steep grades and congested conditions at Savanna.  The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928.  During the 20th Century, this line served as a secondary connecting line between the Quad Cities and mainline to Kansas City with Lake Michigan.  The Ashdale Cutoff would be abandoned in 1952.  Throughout the 20th Century, conditions on the Milwaukee Road continued to deteriorate.  The railroad entered bankruptcy in 1977, and was forced to liquidate  unprofitable lines.  Much of the Rockton to Kittredge line was abandoned in 1980, as well as the line from Savanna to Albany.  In 1980, the segment from Beloit to Clinton, Wisconsin was sold to the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW); and the segment from Allens Grove to Elkhorn was sold to the Wisconsin Southern Railroad (WSOR). 

By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986.  In 1995, the segment from East Moline to Cordova was acquired Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) when the DRI&NW was dissolved.   C&NW was merged into Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1995, and BN was merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996 to form BNSF Railway.   In 1997, CP would sell the portion of this line between Savanna and Kittredge to I&M Rail Link, which was purchased by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) subsidiary Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E). Portions of the route between Albany and Cordova would be abandoned in 2006.  The DM&E/IC&E were purchased by Canadian Pacific in 2008.  CP merged with Kansas City Southern Railway in 2023 to form CPKC. 

Today, much of the line is abandoned, but some portions remain in service.  Between Rock Island and Cordova, BNSF Railway continues to operate the line as the Nitrin Subdivision.  Between Savanna and Kittredge, the line is operated as part of the larger CPKC Chicago Subdivision.  UP operates the State Line Industrial Lead between Beloit and Clinton; and Wisconsin & Southern continues to operate the Elkhorn Branch.  Between Elkhorn and Kansasville, the White River State Trail now uses the railroad grade.  Some industrial trackage in Burlington is still in use.  Between Sturtevant and Kansasville, the railroad is operated by CPKC as an industrial lead.