This right-of-way was once part of the Hayfield to Mason City Division of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. However, it was abandoned in 1984 under Chicago North Western ownership. Today, a lone signal still stands guard over its crossing with the former Milwaukee Road (Canadian Pacific today) in Austin, MN. View is looking southwest. Photo by Tim Thorp.
The abandoned route between Hayfield and Oelwein is a former Chicago Great Western mainline. The CGW once had large shops with turntable and large yard at Hayfield, MN, seen here. (Submitted by Tim Thorp)