The Iowa Northern Railway was originally created from former Rock Island Railroad trackage from Cedar Rapids to Manly, Iowa. The line was purchased by a combination of grain shippers that feared losing rail access to the grain processing industries Cedar Rapids hosts. The line was operated only during grain moves in the early years. eventually a short branch from Vinton to Dysert was abandoned and the tracks removed. Year around operations started when the line picked up bridge traffic from the former CNW's orphan Waterloo line. The line is now owned and operated by Iron Road Railways based in Washington, DC. The company also owns the BAR and CDAC Railways of the East. Rumors abound that the IANR is up for bid by other roads, but nothing has materialized. The road currently operates one train per day each way. One locomotive is leased to the UP in Waterloo for their operations. However, the road does have nicely painted GP-20's in maroon with gold lettering. The road also will sport CDAC units and leased GP-38's.