Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railroad-Rock Rapids Station, Railroad Track and Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rock Rapids
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| Former Rock Island Line passenger station | ||
The station in April 2005.
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| Location | 255–399 North Story Street, Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246 | |
| Platforms | 1 | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1886 | |
| Former services | ||
| Lua error in Module:Adjacent_stations at line 236: Unknown line "Sioux Falls-Ellsworth".
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Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railroad-Rock Rapids Station, Railroad Track and Bridge
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | N. Story St. Rock Rapids, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre | |
| Built | 1886 | |
| Built by | Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls and Northwestern Railway | |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000783 | |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1976 | |
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railroad-Rock Rapids Station, Railroad Track and Bridge is an important historical place in Rock Rapids, Iowa. It includes the old train station, its tracks, and a bridge. This whole area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's recognized as a special historical site across the country.
Contents
The Rock Rapids Train Station
This historic area includes one main building and three other important structures. These parts help tell the story of how railroads helped towns grow in the past.
A Bit of History
Trains didn't arrive in Lyon County until 1885. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway (BCR&N) planned a new train line. It would connect Little Rock, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passing through Rock Rapids. Local people and the county helped pay for the project. The train line was finished the very next year, in 1886. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls and Northwestern Railway built the tracks and buildings. This company was connected to the BCR&N.
What the Station Looked Like
The train station building has both one and two stories. It is made of wood. The outside of the building has a special design called the Stick style. This style uses decorative wooden boards to create patterns. The single-story part of the building was used as a warehouse. It stored goods that were being shipped by train.
Bridge No. 2834 is also part of this historic site. It is about 550 feet (170 m) long. The bridge has a unique curve in it. It is a Plate girder bridge, which means it's made of strong metal plates. The bridge has nine sections. Two sections cross the main part of the Rock River. Six sections cross Island Park. The last section crosses the west part of the Rock River. Near the station, there's also an old hand switch for the train tracks.
From Trains to Museum
Later, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad took over the train station and tracks. They were often called the "Rock Island Line." The Lyon County Historical Society bought the old station building in 1973. Today, they run it as a museum. The Rock Island Line used the tracks until the mid-1970s. After that, the tracks were no longer used for trains.
