History: Timeline

From the early days of "Interurban" travel between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, CRANDIC has been providing service to eastern Iowans along our route.

Today, it's not people, but cargo that travels our lines. By serving many of eastern Iowa's largest manufacturers, we are still serving communities by delivering needed supplies to businesses and doing our part to keep our state and local economy strong.

• Summer 1903
  Construction begins on the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway - first known as the "Interurban."
• August, 13, 1904
  Freight and passenger service begin between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
• 1907
  CRANDIC begins hauling carload freight.
• 1913
  Eastbound line to Mount Vernon complete.
• 1914
  Line complete to Lisbon.
• 1920s
  North Liberty children ride the CRANDIC to school in Iowa City.
• July 24, 1928
  Last car travels on the Mount Vernon/Lisbon line.
• 1929
  CRANDIC Stages, an intercity bus company, begins operations.
• 1933
  CRANDIC Stages sold to Nevin Bus Line.
• 1939
  CRANDIC purchases six high-speed cars from the defunct Cincinnati & Lake Erie Railroad.
• 1945
  CRANDIC ridership rises steadily, carrying a record 573,707 passengers.
• 1953
  Passenger service is discontinued.
• 1953
  Diesel locomotive purchased for all-freight service.
• 1961
  CRANDIC customers include heavy equipment manufacturers Link-Belt Speeder and Harnischfeger.
• 1968
  CRANDIC begins service at Corn Sweeteners, now Archer Daniels Midland.
• Early 1970s
  CRANDIC's signature colors are updated to bright yellow and deep red.
• 1980
  CRANDIC acquires Milwaukee line through Amana and Rock Island line from Iowa City to Hills.
• 1984
  CRANDIC invests in rail line from Council Bluffs to Chicago, now known as Iowa Interstate Railroad.
• 1990s
  CRANDIC is instrumental in bringing four new industrial customers to the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor.
• 1996
  CRANDIC Shops relocates to 3150 12^th Street S.W.
• 2001
  Amana line becomes CRANDIC's main route.
• 2004
  CRANDIC celebrates 100 years of excellence.
• 2005
  Railway Age Magazine names CRANDIC short line railroad of the year.
  State-of-the-art maintenance facility built at the original Rockford Road location.
• 2008
  CRANDIC rebuilds after historic flooding in June causes major damage and destroys the Cedar River bridge.
• 2011
  CRANDIC named Argus Media's Win-Win Award recipient along with business partner, Archer Daniels Midland.