Chicago and North Western Remembering the Cowboy (Preview)

C. Vision brings you the final chapter of the Chicago and North Western's operations of its Western Division before its merging into the Union Pacific Railroad on April 25, 1995. This video will show you some of the rare footage of the original "Cowboy Line" from Norfolk to Chadron, Nebraska. This line was abandoned by the C&NW after December 2, 1992. The Nebkota Railway revived a portion of this line. At the time of production, Nebkota operated the line with a set of A-B-A "F" units. We catch a Nebkota train operating in the northern sandhills region of Nebraska.
The majority of movement on the west end lines by the North Western was on the Colony Line from Colony, Wyoming to Dakota Junction in Nebraska. C. Vision's cameras capture C&NW operations in the final years of its existence on this line. Included is one of the last C&NW trains in operation before the final merger.
Negotiations and rumors spread as to what the Union Pacific was going to do with this section of railroad. Then, in February of 1996, it became publicly known that U.P. had sold the Colony Line to the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern. Soon after the sale, C. Vision's cameras captured a few runbys as DM&E's Mount Rushmore locomotive pulls a train from Belle Fourche to Rapid City.
Don't miss this video as it relives the history of this great fallen flag, up until its final hours. "Remembering the Cowboy" is a video that belongs in your collection today!
Copyright 1998, C. Vision Productions
Color/90 Minutes

[@denniscoleman8802]

Thanks for posting! From a grateful ex CNW employee 👍😎🇺🇸 I was hired in Feb 1974 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I retired after 36 years. I was in Milwaukee, Council Bluffs Iowa and Chicago ( Proviso Shop ) I was in the Locomotive Department. In 2003 I was tasked with reopening the Milwaukee shop for the UPRR! I was a great time! I retired from there in 2010. Was a Great career and I miss it at times😁😎

[@CVisionProductions1]

You are very welcome Dennis. Thank you for writing! Where were you based?

[@denniscoleman8802]

@@CVisionProductions1 I didn’t see this reply action so I edited my post😮😁 Tech challenged😂

[@atariforever2002]

Wow, this brings back memories. I saw literally hundreds of these trains traveling east west near O'Neill Ne. growing up in the mid 80's. I remember hearing the whistle blowing in the distance, hopping on my bike and racing down to the nearest crossing to wave at the engineers. Good times.

[@independencerailfan]

That's me right now 👍

[@bruteforce76]

Thank you for posting this CNW vid. My grandfather was an engineer for CNW in the 1940's and 50's, Norfolk to Chicago mostly (from what I've been told).

[@mrspacecase]

The shots show some nicely ballasted roadbed, and some shoddy, ill-kemp roadbed, unfortunately so typical in the last years of the C&NW. Nice video!

[@cindysplace]

Good video. I am getting more and more interested in trains now. I live the historic information. Thank you.

[@tommythomason6187]

Good ol' SD40-2s - one of the finest machines GM ever made.

[@CVisionProductions1]

You got that right! Thank you!

[@denniscoleman8802]

Yes ….. It was the best in my experience 👍

[@richfiles]

I lived much farther east of here, but this video brings back memories... I lived in Sleepy Eye, MN as a kid. I remember the green and yellow CNW trains passing by as a kid. I even more fondly remember all those wonderful named DME locomotives though! I've been getting back into N scale model railroading. I'd started out as a kid, but all I had was random rolling stock. Thanks to a better understanding of what used to roll by (and ebay), I can now focus on the railroads I love most. DME, CNW, and The Rock Island line... I also fondly remember the occasional bright blue rolling stock with that giant R that used to roll by. I never knew as a kid that the company was long gone, but that caught my attention. When I learned they had many named locomotives as well, I was surely hooked. In the end, I realized what I wanted to model... _Fallen flags, still waving..._ The lines I grew up seeing, that are no more... That's what I'll model.

[@bkriegel95]

Wow. Some of those clips have really good resolution for their age.

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

I like those 1994 scheme sd40-2s with the logo and gong bell on the front I thought those were the best sd40-2 paint scheme locomotives I’ve ever seen on the CNW or just any railroad thanks for capturing footage of those locomotives

[@RJ-kx2ck]

My father Raymond (Jack) Walker was road master for c/nw out of Huron South Dakota he worked for them all his life past away in 1977.I have alot of good memories from the there My uncle Jim Walker did to he was in Nabreska.

[@petermarshall7005]

A great pity to see these lines closed or abandoned too much of it has happened here in Australia we should work in with the communitys and rural producers along these lines to make them viable surely they are more significant than being reduced to walking trails or bicyle tracks

[@FierroDuroRails]

MAN GOTTA LOVE THOSE CN&W COLORS I STILL REMEMBER SEEING THEM AS KID AT THE SCRAP YARD MY DAD WORKED FOR BACK IN THE 80S AND 90S...GOOD MEMORIES.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you! I love them too. I grew up with the CNW is western South Dakota.

[@ElliottWolcott]

Good Catch.

[@elleryparsons5766]

Just watching them go By was quite something .

[@CVisionProductions1]

Sure miss the CNW!!!!

[@elleryparsons5766]

Yes it certainly was now I got to get the Engine And the Rolling stock of The Cn.

[@FlyBikes089]

Oh, I see. Thanks for info and, nice video too!

[@microbusss]

oh dude you're SO right! IF UP had the knowledge they'd rebuild the Cowboy Line to haul coal! This line would relief some bottleneck in North Platte!

[@jessep1980]

it would always wash out in places around Fremont Norfolk and so on, that's why it was abandoned originally because it was costing too much money to repair.

[@bakerboat4572]

Because of PSR (precision schedule railroading), no they wouldn't.

[@Reading3412Studios]

Here’s a fun fact 6900 was sold to letx and still has the CNW paint

[@Reading3412Studios]

Okay update it’s been sold to GMTX and is now painted blue

[@jschmid]

1:00 never seen a bridge flex like that before.

[@niobraraterminalrailroad2709]

Love the old high hood at 3:41

[@UPNSP]

@BNSFrailfan FEVR operates on a portion on the old Cowboy Line.

[@jamesburnside3023]

Love the info and the video

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you James!

[@microbusss]

I rode on the track the year b4 it was abandoned between Gordon & Merriman on one of them speeders

[@seancarr346]

CNW did up until the 80s, then after some wrangling, the RR sold the SD lines to Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern, which is now part of Canadian Pacific.

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

The line was abandoned in 1995 UP operated it for one year then sold to the DME and then the DME got bought out by RCPE and now it is currently a part of the CP

[@deloreanman14]

I always found it interesting that the CNW used highway crossing bells on their locomotives. Does anybody else know why they did this?

[@ryanmcgrath4979]

CNW 6902 has a very finely tuned RS3L, similar to the B40-8Ws that BNSF has in operation.

[@CVisionProductions1]

It does sound nice!

[@danthetrainman5656]

I love this narrorator!

[@blacktopandsteel]

Nice, very nice!

[@440general]

I am Spanish and a railfan. American's Railroads I like more. North Americans Steam, diesel and electrics locotives are very pretty. Thanks: Xavier Maraña(440General).

[@BjornStyrmir]

I live in Gordon Nebraska…… now the rail line has been purchased by farmers coop all the way up to Chadron Nebraska, tracks removed up to Chadron and it’s now a hiking/bike trail.

[@CVisionProductions1]

It’s good that they decided to preserve the right-of-way. Although we’d rather see trains operating, trails built on old railroad grades are usually some of the best. Thanks for the comment.

[@Syclone0044]

2:30 wow look how clean 6848 is! Even the bottom of the snow plow is still glossy. Like it was just repainted in the great old yellow CNW scheme.. Compare that to the hideously filthy lead unit at 5:30 LMAO! Now that's the CNW I remember!

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Awesome Video

[@CVisionProductions1]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@PunkyBear36]

December 2nd 1992; thats my birthday!

[@j.m.youngquist419]

Nice footage

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thanks 👍

[@adrianneils2727]

And yes the bureaucracy does have a say in every move the railroads do. Especially when it comes to abandonment or mothballing part or all of a railroad. The whole nation is covered by the Surface Transportation Board . They determine whether or not the rail line can be removed or must stay in service. Even when a line is Out-of-service, it cannot be removed or shut down completely. It can be used for rail car storage. They are a FEDERAL official.

[@torquetrain8963]

Wish that high speed rail can break the spell of the evil auto barons and car centric idiocy in America. Cars and highways are responsible for more deaths every day than by any other sickness , disease or means. Rail barons were amateurs compared to the insane greed of auto, oil, and airline barons. Americans, get your freedom back....fight for high speed rail, commuter and subway, light rail, monorail, trolley, bus, bicycle! Defeat and dethrone king car and pickup. We need a real transportation system in America. Not an ego based idiotic nonsense highway system we have now. I want to walk in an American city that is not auto centric.

[@AbelG8781]

@@torquetrain8963 "cars and highways lead to more deaths" yeaaahh kid, stop talking.

[@roberthansen2008]

I remember when that railroad track when all the way down past North Fork Nebraska through Stanton Nebraska Pilger Nebraska Wisner Nebraska Beemer Nebraska West Point Nebraska Scribner Nebraska Hooper Nebraska Fremont Nebraska and all the way to Omaha Nebraska.

[@caderamsey8878]

Dudeeeeee nice horn

[@danielepelaia7875]

One of my favorite railroad is now a fallen flag

[@lcar4000]

Is this the same line that once ran all the way to Lander Wyoming, with plans to reach the Pacific?

[@scoobycarr5558]

I'm not sure, but the CNW did have a few aspirations of reaching the Pacific. But unfortunately this was not to be.

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

C Vision productions there were 2 cowboy lines + 1 sort of cowboy line the CNW had two full cowboy lines were the first one between Wyoming and Crawford Nebraska and the other between Norfolk and Chadron Nebraska plus the sort of one that’s the colony line through South Dakota the Wyoming to Crawford line was abandoned 1991 and the other cowboy line between Norfolk and Chadron was abandoned in 1992 so the cowboy line between Norfolk and Chadron was abandoned one year later than the Wyoming to Crawford line the Wyoming to Crawford line was abandoned by the CNW because storms had swept away parts of the line then one year later the cowboy Line between Norfolk and Chadron was abandoned by CNW so the cowboy line between Norfolk and Chadron Nebraska was abandoned one year later than the line between Wyoming and Crawford Nebraska along with the colony line still in operation up until the CNW was bought by the Union Pacific on April 25th 1995

[@CVisionProductions1]

Great information! Thank you!!!

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

@@CVisionProductions1 it gets pretty interesting

[@ElliottWolcott]

its Cool.

[@jamesstallings2007]

INTERESTING VIDEO !!!!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Thank you James!

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

The CNW was mainly big on SDs and GPs

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

The only thing they used GE units for were coal trains

[@chevelle396guy]

Where is that depot at the end of the video located? Does it still exist?

[@CVisionProductions1]

Must be referring to Sturgis. Yep, it’s still there!

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

Hey c vision where we’re these cnw trains recorded because the CNW western division was abandoned in 1992 so where were these trains filmed because you said this video was in 1994 so where were these trains caught if the western division was abandoned in 1992

[@CVisionProductions1]

The Western Division was not abandoned in 1992. Only the Norfolk to Chadron line was. The Colony Line from Chadron (Dakota Junction) to Colony Wyoming still operated and still does today by the RCP&E. So this footage was taken up to the end of the CNW in 1993, 1994 and to the end in April, 1995.

[@carmichaeltrainproductionc9663]

I remember as Kid of the Old west in the 90s with Santa Fa and the old BN and Last the CNW I will never forget these images as a photosphere in todays would we continue to re white the History it's amazing how quickly things have changed in the last 20 years Plus!!

[@davewallace8219]

does chadron nebraska have railroad service?

[@CVisionProductions1]

They sure do. The Nebraska Northwestern operates out of Chadron.

[@davewallace8219]

long time ago!

[@nitrofumes2012]

What can anyone tell me about the Sandridge siding? It looked to me to be a siding in the middle of nowhere but I’ve heard it may have had a military use.

[@CVisionProductions1]

I wish I could. I have no idea.

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

What is your favorite railroad c Vision productions

[@CVisionProductions1]

CNW by far!

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

@@CVisionProductions1 same with me my all time definite by far and will always be Chicago And NorthWestern

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

Are you sure it’s not Burlington Northern

[@CNWrapidrails6867]

?

[@CVisionProductions1]

I do like the BN as well, but CNW is number 1.

[@osrr6422]

3:20 A super 7 6 axle? Rare.

[@CVisionProductions1]

And on the western division. Even more rare! Thanks for commenting!!!

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

The northern part of this line would be Torn Up and would never see a train again

[@CVisionProductions1]

Actually, all the rails on the Colony Line are still in place.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Maybe we misunderstood you. Which line are you referring to?

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

@@CVisionProductions1 The old FEVR Line

[@CVisionProductions1]

Ahhh, yes. Some of that has been removed.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

@@CVisionProductions1 The Railway equipment is being removed rn. BTW is that ADM Grain spur a part of the Cowboy line.

[@Cnw8701]

Hmm... this line seems familiar... a once-famous line owned by the D&RGW...

[@tomtodd7744]

StarWarsTrains Tennessee Pass

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

I hated seeing UP replacing CNW. They went right through Nevada Iowa.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Me too! I grew up with the CNW in western South Dakota.

[@henrybrightonmusicuploads]

Signature Gong Bells. They're quite rare now!

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yes, they are. Miss them very much!

[@microbusss]

DME is no more! Was sold to CP Rail in 2008 Also the sections here are now Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad tracks as of 2014

[@adrianneils2727]

If the rail line need too much improvement to be used that would have been one reason for abandonment. Now days, a simple grade crossing can cost upwards to over $ 3,000,000 . That's a complete rebuild +

[@FlyBikes089]

Doing, Chicago and North Western (CNW) still in service or shut down the business?

[@microbusss]

NeKota is no more! tracks got abandoned between Merriman to Chadron * is now a trail Still this was THE dumbest thing CNW ever did abandoning this line! the coal traffic could bypass North Platte by using this line to Omaha!

[@mattanderson6336]

That was the original plan when CNW applied to Congress for a $500 million load to upgrade the entire Cowboy Line to haul coal. The loan was shot down and CNW went with hat in hand to Union Pacific for help and they immediately came up with the money for the 56 mile connector line from Shawnee Jct. WY to South Morrill NE. UP was more than willing to put up with the congestion in North Platte as long as they reaped the profits of getting the longer haulage of the coal trains on their railroad. Helped force the CNW into the UP system in 1995.

[@abiluevanos2596]

microbusss

[@bakerboat4572]

Bill got shot down because UP loves lobbying congress to bring down competitors. As a result, the only Class I railroads I respect is Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern.

[@bakerboat4572]

(Update): to anyone who finds this thread, to hell with CP Rail. Recently they have been targeting modelers with cease and desist letters, so now they too are scum.

[@seancarr346]

Now it seems the UP now has congestion in and around North Platte. Even UP can have bad management just like some of the fallen flags of old.

[@calpeninsularailfan]

a lot of go carts on that abandoned line.

[@fredlohmann1448]

THIS DOES'NT MAKE ANY SENSE! C"NW SHOULD'VE BEEN ALONE!

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

And if they had not abandoned the line it could have hauled coal east to Chicago and the eastern US instead of failed DM&E coal upgrade project.

[@CVisionProductions1]

Yep. Only if... Thanks for watching!

[@tropicalrailroadproduction5028]

Where is CNW 6910

[@CVisionProductions1]

Tropical Railroad Productions TV network System Now Alabama and Gulf Coast. www.rrpicturearchives.net/LocoPicture.aspx?id=184646

[@IvanAguilar101392]

Cnw rules

[@onrr1726]

I remember a lot of CNW Locomotives on Conrail trains in New York State

[@CVisionProductions1]

CNW units roamed all over the country. Pretty neat!

[@CVisionProductions1]

They did get around back then. It seemed CNW and Conrail worked together a lot back then.