Grand Island and Wyoming Central Railroad

The Grand Island and Wyoming Central Railroad (GI&WC) was a railroad that served the U.S. states of Nebraska and South Dakota. It was headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska.^[1] In 1902, it had a length of 401.32 miles (645.86 km).^[2]

It was leased by the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad (B&M), which was a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, on May 25, 1886.^[3] The original intent was to extend the line into Wyoming,^[1] and westward construction began in 1886;^[4] but in 1889, the railroad began building into the Black Hills to serve the mines built during the Black Hills Gold Rush. In 1890, the railroad reached Hill City and Englewood, and in 1891, service to Deadwood was established.^[1] A line to Spearfish was added in 1893.^[5] In 1897, the B&M purchased the GI&WC, and the line began operating as the B&M.^[1]

References

1. Fielder, Mildred (1985) [First published 1964]. Railroads of the Black Hills. Deadwood, SD: Dakota Graphics. LCCN 64-21320.
2. Annual Report 24. Iowa State Commerce Commission. 1902. p. 119.
3. Strause, L.K. (1928). Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States 134. Interstate Commerce Commission.
4. "History of the Area". Cairo Roots Museum. Cairo, NE: Cairo Roots Museum. 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
5. "Time Line of Black Hills Railroads". Black Hills Visitor. Rapid City, SD: Black Hills Visitor. 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2014.