UP 4474 West, Belle Plaine, Iowa; Oct 7, 2004_
A westbound passing the large brick station at Belle Plaine. The large size of this structure stands testament to the importance this small town once had for the C&NW. Lines once went four directions out of here. In addition to the east-west Chicago to Omaha main, a branch line south toward coal mines in southern Iowa near Albia, and a secondary main north through Mason City continued on into southern Minnesota. To support these lines Belle Plaine was a busy place during the 1920s and 30s with a 30-stall roundhouse and 150-ton concrete coal tower. Control towers at each end of town controlled train movements.
There is not much to see here today, but the station is in good shape and remains. The north and south lines are long gone and trains on the two CTC controlled mains through town have no reason to stop. But the community has a few items on display to commemorate its heyday as a division point town. I tried to duplicate this shot a few weeks ago but that tree behind the Speed Limit 15 sign and the others totally blocks the view of this end of the station.
UP 4474 West, Belle Plaine, Iowa; Oct 7, 2004_
A westbound passing the large brick station at Belle Plaine. The large size of this structure stands testament to the importance this small town once had for the C&NW. Lines once went four directions out of here. In addition to the east-west Chicago to Omaha main, a branch line south toward coal mines in southern Iowa near Albia, and a secondary main north through Mason City continued on into southern Minnesota. To support these lines Belle Plaine was a busy place during the 1920s and 30s with a 30-stall roundhouse and 150-ton concrete coal tower. Control towers at each end of town controlled train movements.
There is not much to see here today, but the station is in good shape and remains. The north and south lines are long gone and trains on the two CTC controlled mains through town have no reason to stop. But the community has a few items on display to commemorate its heyday as a division point town. I tried to duplicate this shot a few weeks ago but that tree behind the Speed Limit 15 sign and the others totally blocks the view of this end of the station.