Appanoose
County Community Railroad - (en)
The Appanoose County Community Railroad (AAR reporting marks APNC) is
based out of Centerville, Iowa. It is a shortline running to the community
of Albia, Iowa, where it distributes cars from Centerville to be put on
the BNSF Railway's trains.
Recently, the railroad was hit hard by the fact that the local Rubbermaid
plant in Centerville, APNC's premier customer, closed its doors on
September 15th, 2006. At least 75% of the cargo hauled by the shortline
was from Rubbermaid. The railroad is partly operated by the county, and
there are a few other industries in the same area, so the railroad may
survive.
Route of the APNC
The APNC is comprised from routes formerly owned by 2 railroads: the
Norfolk Southern, and the Burlington Northern. Starting from the
Centerville industrial park, the APNC runs over ex-BN trackage east. At a
point known as Moulton Junction, the two railroads, Burlington Northern,
Norfolk Southern, as well as the Rock Island, met. Today, only one part of
two of the original routes through here remain. This is where the APNC
turns to the north. Until recently, a switchback was still located at this
point, and the trains had to stop, reverse and couple up to their consist
on the other end before continuing up the line. This has been replaced
with one sweeping curve, and there is no longer an actual junction at
Moulton Junction.
Going north, the APNC is now on ex-NS trackage. The line passes over state
highway 2, through the town of Udell, and crosses over the Iowa, Chicago
& Eastern railroad at grade, before entering Moravia. Here there is a
restored station, and a siding, which is used for run-around movements
during the railroad's annual excursion train rides.
After leaving Moravia, the line continues north into Monroe County. The
next town is Albia, and is also the northern terminus of the railroad.
Here there is a small yard, where cars from Centerville are exchanged with
the BNSF Railway.
In 2005, a new RELCO locomotive facility opened in Albia, and is directly
off of the APNC route on the southern edge of town. RELCO leases, rebuilds
and repairs locomotives from all around the country. Many different
locomotives have been repaired here, including units owned by BNSF, Union
Pacific, CSX, and Amtrak. RELCO also receives new locomotives en route and
tests them on their tracks, and perhaps over the APNC as well. Some of
Montana Rail Link's new SD70ACe locomotives were tested in Albia before
they were put into regular service.
Other railroads in the area
There are other railroads that the APNC passes over or travels by. The
Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad (IC&E) passes through and crosses
over the APNC just a little ways south of Moravia. The IC&E travels
between Kansas City and Chicago. It is the former I&M Rail Link, and
even earlier than that it was the Milwaukee Road.
BNSF Railway's mainline between Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska, splits in
Albia, Iowa. The southern mainline track goes through a cutting and under
Albia. The APNC railroad track crosses over this mainline track. This BNSF
mainline was once the Burlington Northern Railroad, and even earlier than
that it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, better known as
the "Burlington Route".
The APNC Railroad ends in Albia. However, the tracks continue on. BNSF
owns these tracks and it is their only route to Des Moines. It is single
track the entire way.
