Chicago and North Western’s Western Division, The Cowboy Lines - FULL VIDEO (1993)

C. Vision Productions explores the Western Division of the Chicago and North Western, during the railroad’s final years of existence. C&NW’s Cowboy Line and Colony Line are covered extensively in this program, with additional coverage of the railroad’s coal operations based in South Morrill, Nebraska. You will see historic footage of the Cowboy Line between Norfolk, Nebraska and Chadron, Nebraska, including the last train before the line’s abandonment. As a special treat, we were invited aboard CNW 6848 for the final journey across the Cowboy Line on December 1, 1992. Next, we head for the Chicago and North Western’s coal line to document CNW C40-8s and SD60s handling a steady flow of black diamonds out of the Powder River Basin. Coverage of CNW’s Powder River Sub, the CNW/BN Joint Line, and behind-the-scenes footage of the South Morrill operations center are featured in this portion of the video. We then return to the Cowboy Line to document operations between Chadron and Crawford, Nebraska. In Crawford, you’ll witness a live interchange between the Burlington Northern and C&NW, with both crews exchanging traffic and returning back to their home terminals. Last, we’ll cover the Colony Line between Dakota Junction, Nebraska and Belle Fourche, South Dakota. This line follows the eastern edge of the beautiful Black Hills, and is surely a C. Vision favorite. We’ll hop aboard CNW 5529 as our train heads north on the Rapid City Sub, towards the subdivision’s namesake. In addition to the cab ride, a great variety of trains are seen as we continue north along the Colony Line. We’ll see CNW GP40s, GP50s, SD40-2s, and even a stray SD50, powering trains over the many steep grades of the Rapid City Sub. Relive the memories of Chicago and North Western’s Western Division, in this full-length video presentation.
Copyright 1993, C. Vision Productions
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[@mjrodriguez8670]

I really enjoyed watching this video! The C&NW Cowboy Line across Nebraska...what more could you ask for? It is a unique line that sliced through the Sand Hills. Members of the Rosebud Sioux tribe would ride on a C&NW passenger train, bound for Omaha, in Valentine. The scenery is rather bland, though. Thanks for uploading this video to KZbin!

[@Jerrod247]

I went to college in rapid city, trains don't move nearly as quick on the line there anymore. The roundhouse is across from the school of mines campus and looks exactly the same though.

[@ryanfrogz]

Thanks for uploading! Love all the yard shots. Wish the railroads still let people do that nowadays.

[@GOPGonzo]

Having lived most of my life next to the old C&NW racetrack out of Proviso Yard in Chicago it is fascinating to see the rest of the C&NW. It wasn't all commuter trains and double stacks.

[@CNWrapidrails6834]

I wish it were like the old days where photographers and videographers were allowed on cab rides

[@CNWrapidrails6834]

You’re lucky you caught these trains because most of the rail of the cowboy line is taken out (no rails)

[@0fficialdregs]

one of my other favorite railroads

[@pauljung7611]

Wow this is CNW Cowboy Line wow this is cool!

[@freddykagin]

I will never forget Chicago north Western. ❤they ran through my back yard. 😊in Wi 😊

[@AllanLoveJr]

The Chicago and Northwestern Cowboy line across Northern Nebraska should have never ever been abandoned reasons why there was plenty of agriculture farmers needed that line to get their crops on the trains and have them shipped to ports but it's quite obvious that politics and American communismand greedAll thanks to the Union PacificDefinitelyPut it in to this lineUnion Pacific is to blamefor the destruction and the ultimate disasters endto the cowboy line

[@donoghue964]

Another great western SD video, you know it's my favorite part of the US so it made me smile. I never got to see the CNW but dang I wish I did. Thankyou, Matt

[@kingoflovetrain6426]

I really Enjoy watching The C&NW Cowboy Line!, This is a really Good Show!

[@tracksideadventures]

Love this era of railroading and old school video. Thanks for sharing!

[@bekleidungu.ausrustung7068]

Very well done. I love the old CNW!!

[@highlife2227]

Thanks so much for the vid. It brought back great memories of when I was a boy and the CNW ran parallel to Hwy 30 through Iowa. There were several things to note in this video, but I had to chuckle at one. Out of all the footage, I caught one car with graffiti. Either spray paint wasn't invented in those days, or the youths on the western plains had better things to do with their time :-) Regardless, it was great to see so much CNW rolling stock as the manufacturer produced them. Again, thanks so much for your time and effort!

[@davidstewart5694]

Wood chips in boxes are definitely a thing of the past. RRing isn't anything like it was in this video. Good stuff.

[@tedferguson4082]

The cnw is still my favorite railroad. It is full size model railroad. Doing things a model railroader would do with second hand cars and power

[@colinmulder6806]

I'd like to point out some factors on this video:

[@calebjensen2258]

I'm from around the Ainsworth area and I was just young enough to remember when they quit running trains on the cowboy line appreciate seeing a video when it actually was under operation it is too bad this line was taken out and railbanked

[@AlikStansberry]

“Cowboy lines” huh? Pretty stylish name for a railroad sub division I think!