Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad

Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad

DM&E and IC&E combined system map as of 2002.
An eastbound IC&E train with a trio of SD40-2s running through Fairdale, Illinois.
Reporting mark	ICE
Locale	Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin
Dates of operation	2002–2008
Successor	Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	1,400 mi (2,300 km)
Headquarters	Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad (IC&E) (reporting mark ICE) was a Class II railroad operating in the north central United States. It has been controlled by the Canadian Pacific Railway and operated as a part of its system since October 30, 2008. Formerly, the IC&E was jointly owned with the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad by Cedar American Rail Holdings (CARH), making the combined system the largest class II railroad in the US. Created by the purchase of I&M Rail Link, IC&E commenced operations on July 30, 2002. The 1,400-mile (2,300 km) line, based in Davenport, Iowa, serves the states of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Principal commodities include chemicals, coal, steel, automobiles, and agricultural products. Train dispatching is performed at a joint DM&E/IC&E facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On December 26, 2008, the IC&E was merged into parent CARH, which immediately merged into the DM&E.

The IC&E was formed in 2002 to take over the operations of the I&M Rail Link (IMRL). The Illinois and the majority of the Iowa portions of the ICE were originally part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (the Milwaukee Road). In 1986, the Soo Line Railroad, a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific, purchased the Milwaukee Road, and began operations on these lines.