Remembering southeast Iowa's Peavine : a rail line with beginnings as a narrow gauge, then converted to standard gauge; affiliations with the Sante Fe and the Burlington systems : a history covering the years 1871-1981 / Michael R. Johns.
Origins & two decades as a narrow gauge -- Conversion to standard gauge & expansion westward -- The Burlington takes over -- Facilities & folklore -- The K line, a competitor becomes a feeder line -- The Peavine struggles on -- Endings.
Summary:
A local history necessarily tells a story. This is the story of a rail line that was built across four counties in southeastern iowa; a rail line that had an affectionate attachment with the communities and farm population it served. The rail line lasted 110 years, and was fondly referred to as "the Peavine" in local terminology; presumably because of the winding route taken across the landscape of southeastern Iowa. The railroad started out as a narrow gauge (36 inch wide track) mine line route, was then converted to standard gauge (56.5 inches) after a bankruptcy, extended westward with an eye toward serving as a main line route to the Sante Fe Railway. The line fell once again into bankruptcy, and was acquired by the Burlington, serving out the remaining 80 years of its operations as a branch or "feeder" line. The history of the "Peavine" includes a story of the communities and people it served. It also tells the story of external forces that spelled doom for the rail line-decisions made elsewhere in corporate board rooms, public policy that subsidized competitors at the expense of the railroad, and of transportation deregulations -- its causes and effects.
OCLC:
(OCoLC)505645759
Locations:
USUX851 -- Iowa State University - Parks Library (Ames)
IAOX771 -- State Library of Iowa (Des Moines)
F3OX522 -- State Historical Society of Iowa Library (Iowa City)
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.