BNSF Court Avenue Bridge (Chariton)

In May 1854, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad (B&MR) began constructing a new mainline across southern Iowa, with the goal of connecting the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa to the Missouri River near Omaha, Nebraska.  In 1857, the first 34 miles between Burlington and the Skunk River near Rome, Iowa were completed.  In 1859, an additional 41 miles between the Skunk River and Ottumwa, Iowa were completed.  The railroad ceased progress during the Civil War, and eventually continued west in 1866.  That year, an additional 24 miles were completed between Ottumwa and Albia, Iowa.  Work continued in 1867, when an additional 46 miles were completed to Woodburn, Iowa.  Between 1867 and 1868, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) constructed a bridge across the Mississippi River to connect this line to their lines in Chicago.  In 1868, an additional 34 miles opened west to Afton, Iowa; followed by an additional 59 miles west to Red Oak, Iowa in 1869 and an additional 32 miles to the Pacific Junction, Iowa in 1870.  In 1872, the B&MR was leased by the CB&Q; and was fully absorbed by the company in 1875.  In the 1870s, the line would be extended into Nebraska, and in 1880, a bridge was constructed across the Missouri River at Plattsmouth.   

This line formed a critical backbone for the CB&Q, connecting Chicago to territories west of the Missouri River.  By the late 1870s, the need for a second track on this route had become apparent.  A second track was constructed between Chillicothe, Iowa and Albia in 1879, including a new alignment around the south side of Albia.  In 1880, a second track was constructed between Burlington and West Burlington, Iowa; as well as between Albia and Russell, Iowa.  In 1885, a second track was constructed between Russell and Chariton, Iowa; followed by between Ottumwa and Chillicothe the following year.  A large segment of second track opened between West Burlington and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1889.  By the turn of the 20th Century, several sections of this line required extensive upgrades in addition to a second track.  In 1900, a second track was completed from Mt. Pleasant to Ottumwa and from Chariton to Creston, Iowa.  A new alignment was constructed between Fairfield, Iowa and Batavia, Iowa; and between Agency, Iowa and Ottumwa in 1900.  In 1901, the line was double tracked between Chariton and Creston.  The 1901 work involved constructing a second single track alignment between Indianola Junction and Lucas, Iowa; between Woodburn and Osceola, Iowa and between Murray, Iowa and Creston.  Between 1902 and 1905, the Creston to Pacific Junction segment was double tracked.  In 1904, a realignment between Nodaway, Iowa and Emerson, Iowa opened to traffic; followed by a large realignment between Malvern, Iowa and Pacific Junction in 1905.

Throughout the 20th Century, this line remained critical to the CB&Q.  The CB&Q invested significant capital into maintaining this line, replacing bridges, revising grades and changing the alignment in spots.  One of the most prominent changes came in 1949, when the westbound track near Frederic, Iowa was straightened, to eliminate a segment of curvy original mainline.  In 1970, CB&Q merged with Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN).  Several segments of this line were single tracked in the mid to late 20th Century.  In 1996, BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway, the current owner of this line.  Today, this line remains a critical piece of railroad infrastructure.  BNSF currently operates a portion of the Ottumwa Subdivision between Burlington and Creston; and a portion of the Creston Subdivision between Creston and Pacific Junction.