CGW Stone Arch (Dodge Center)

In 1885, the Minnesota and Northwestern Railway (M&NW) built 129 miles of railroad between St. Paul, Minnesota and Manly, Iowa; running through towns such as Austin, Minnesota. By 1887, the M&NW would be merged with the Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway Company, which would in turn be purchased by the Chicago Great Western Railway (CGW) in 1893. In 1901, 9 additional miles would be constructed between Manly and Mason City, Iowa by the Mason City & Fort Dodge Railway (MC&FD). The MC&FD would be leased by the CGW the same year. In 1902, the CGW would sell the Hayfield-Manly segment to the leased MC&FD.
In 1909, the CGW would be reorganized as the Chicago Great Western Railroad (CGW). The CGW and leased MC&FD operated the route until 1968, when the CGW was purchased by the Chicago & North Western Railway. The route was unprofitable by the 1970s, and the Hayfield to Austin segment was abandoned in 1977. Further abandonment came in 1981, when the Manly to Austin segment was abandoned, in 1982 when the Randolph to Hayfield segment was abandoned, and in 1984 when the Roseport to Randolph segment was abandoned.
In 1995, the C&NW was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad, which continues to operate two of the segments in 2023. The Mason City to Manly segment is operated as part of the Albert Lea Subdivision, and the St. Paul to Roseport segment as the Roseport Industrial Lead. The remainder of the route is abandoned, with many sections completely removed without a trace.