Midland Continental Railroad

Midland Continental Railroad
Midland Continental Railroad Depot in Wimbledon, North Dakota
Reporting mark MICO
Locale North Dakota, United States
Dates of operation 1906 (1906)–1966 (1966)
Successor Northern Pacific & Soo Line
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 77 miles (124 km)

The Midland Continental Railroad (reporting mark MICO) is a defunct railroad which operated in the U.S. state of North Dakota between 1906 and 1966. The railroad was originally envisioned to run from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Galveston, Texas, United States. Financing problems led to only 2 segments totalling 77 miles (124 km) being completed.[1][2]

The route started in Edgeley at an interchange with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. It continued to Jamestown were the line maintained an interchange with the Northern Pacific Railway. It terminated at Wimbledon were it interchanged with the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (Soo Line).[3]

History

Frank K. Bull had a vision of creating a mid-continent north-south railroad line between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1906 he organized a group of investors that included Frank Seiberling, president of the Goodyear Tire Company.[1]

After surveying was completed, construction commenced in 1909. After completing 2 segments from Edgeley to Jamestown to Wimbledon, funds ran out and additional investors were solicited. Finding no new investors in the United States, Bull headed to England in 1914. He found that J. Bruce Ismay, former chairman of the White Star Line and Titanic survivor, was interested in buying all of the new bonds. Before the deal could be signed, World War I started and Ismay withdrew his offer.[1]

Seiberling bought out the original bonds in 1916 and took over control of the company. Expansion plans were abandoned and the railroad continued to operate until it was purchased in 1966 by the Northern Pacific and Soo Line railroads.[1]

See also

References

KML is not from Wikidata
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Did You Know That..." The Bismark Tribune. 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  2. ↑ Naylor, Cliff (2015-11-01). "Looking Back on the History of the Midland Continental Railroad". KFYR-TV. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  3. ↑ Norman, Keith (2012-05-23). "Disasters, wars killed off railroad dream". The Jamestown Sun. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
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