Iowa Central Air Line Rail Road

Iowa Central Air Line Rail Road

The Iowa Central Air Line Rail Road, also derisively known as the "Calico Railroad", is a historic railroad that operated in Iowa.

The railroad operated from Lyons, Iowa to Council Bluffs, Iowa and was organized in 1853.

Iowa residents purchased stock and Iowa counties voted bonds to help build the road. Early in 1854 work on the track between Lyons and Iowa City was begun and progressed rapidly.

The funds, however, were inadequate and some were misappropriated. As a result, work was stopped in June and engineers, contractors and laborers, involving some 2,000 persons in all, were left without their pay and without work. The Iowa counties, however, were compelled to redeem their bonds.

The railroad company had a store at Lyons, and the goods (including a supply of calico) were distributed in partial payment to the workers; hence the nickname.

References

*Dictionary of American History by James Truslow Adams, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sioux City and Pacific Rail Road — The Sioux City and Pacific Rail Road was a railroad in the U.S. states of Iowa and Nebraska. Built as a connection from Sioux City to the Union Pacific Railroad at Fremont, it became part of the Chicago and North Western Railway system in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Iowa flood of 2008 — Infobox flood image location=Dairy Queen, Cedar Rapids, June 12 2008.jpg name= Iowa Flood of 2008 duration=June 7 around July 1 total damages (USD)=At least 7 Billion total fatalities= 0 deaths areas affected=The Iowa flood of 2008 was an event… …   Wikipedia

  • Rail transportation in the United States — Rail transport Operations Track Maintenance High speed Gauge Stations …   Wikipedia

  • Central Station (Chicago terminal) — See also: Central Station (Chicago) Central Station in February 1971, with signs for the Illinois Central and Big Four Central Station was an intercity passenger terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois, located at the southern end of Grant Park at …   Wikipedia

  • Central Troy Historic District — U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. Historic district …   Wikipedia

  • List of rail accidents (pre-1950) — For a list of 1950 1999 rail accidents, see List of 1950 1999 rail accidents.For a list of post 2000 rail accidents, see List of rail accidents. notoc Pre 1830 1815 * 1815, exact date unclear ndash; Philadelphia, Co Durham, England: 16 people,… …   Wikipedia

  • 1881 in rail transport — Events January events * January 17 Regular train service over the Prince of Wales Bridge on the Québec, Montréal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway begins. [Colin Churcher s Railway Pages (January 8 2006),… …   Wikipedia

  • Davenport, Iowa — Davenport   City   Downtown Davenport, viewed from Rock Island, Illinois …   Wikipedia

  • List of rail accidents (2000–present) — List of rail accidents from 2000 to the present. The list includes some terrorist bombings. For accidents before 1950, see List of pre 1950 rail accidents .For accidents between 1950 and 1999 (inclusive), see List of 1950 1999 rail accidents .For …   Wikipedia

  • Dubuque, Iowa —   City   Downtown Dubuque, Iowa, Oct 2008 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”