Fremont, Nebraska
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Fremont, Nebraska Founded in 1871, Fremont had 3 major railroads pass through town, including the Union Pacific's Transcontinental Route. Today, Fremont continues to serve agricultural industries with service from Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Union Pacific. Maps Related |
Fremont was settled in 1856 and incorporated in 1871. It is named after General John C. Fremont, a famous explorer of the west nicknamed the "Pathfinder." John C. Fremont was the Republican presidential candidate in 1864.[1]
Before the 1950s, the sidewalks had ramps that jutted out into the street and had a piece of metal walk way between the ramp to the curb so that the curb drains were unimpeded and water could flow through. Downtown sidewalks of Main Street still bear green, beige, and red colors from decorative painting possibly done in the 1970s. There also used to be public drinking fountains on many corners.
Situated on the busy Union Pacific transcontinental line, Fremont has a large downtown area, with many historical buildings and a rich history that relied on the railroad. The railroad helps transport coal for the Lon D. Wright Power Plant and move grain, corn, and soy beans from the numerous elevators. Most of the rail lines are concentrated along 1st Street though Burlington Northern and an old Chicago and North Western line go up the west side of town.
Railroads
The founders of Fremont picked it's location in hopes that the Transcontinental Railroad would come through town. In 1866, ten years after the city was founded, the Union Pacific did indeed reach Fremont as it built the famous line. Fremont then became a supply point for the building of the Transcontinental Railroad endeavor. By 1906 three major railroads (CNW, CBQ, & UP) had tracks through the city. [2]
Fremont is listed in the Guide to North America Railroad Hot Spots by J. David Ingles. According to it's entry, on page 111, Union Pacific sees 50 to 60 trains per day, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe sees about 10 to 15.
Union Pacific
The Union Pacific line going through Fremont is a segment of what the UP calls "The Overland Route" as well as the route of the Transcontinental Railroad. According to the UP Web site, Fremont was established as an end point on the Transcontinental Railroad on December 31, 1865. [3]
Chicago and North Western
Chicago and North Western had three tracks coming into Fremont.
All CNW tracks connected in downtown Fremont where the CNW Freight House and Fremont Union Station was located near Main and 1st. The Union Pacific and Chicago and North Western both shared the Union Station. CNW used the tracks on the north side of the building, and UP used the tracks on the south. The freight house still stands, but the station was demolished around 1986.
The CNW also had a roundhouse in Fremont (See Chicago and North Western Roundhouse, Fremont, Nebraska) which still has a foundation at the corner of Clarmar and Cuming.
CNW Track from East
One came in from Missouri Valley, Iowa via Blair, Nebraska. It entered from the north-east where the Lon D. Wright Power Plant is currently located and went along 1st Street into downtown. That line currently in use by the Union Pacific.
CNW Track from South West
Another track came from the south west into town from Lincoln via Wahoo, Nebraska forming the Fremont to Lincoln Branch of the CNW. It came up from Wahoo through Colon, and Cedar Bluffs crossed the Platte River and serviced a sand pit where the Lake Ventura housing development now sits west of Fremont. It then crossed the UP tracks and then ran parallel into Fremont where it also crossed the Burlington tracks. All of the track has since been removed from Fremont extending all the way down to Lincoln.
The piers may still be seen on the islands of the Platte River. (See piers on Google Maps) As of October 28, 2008, Google Maps still showed the track going from Fremont to Wahoo. On the map it terminates in southern Wahoo where it used to cross (at grade) with both the Union Pacific Transcontinental Route and the Burlington's Ashland to Schuyler Branch creating a triangle. You can still see much of the features of the roadbed by looking at the Google satellite photos following it along tree lines and even through green fields where there is just enough grade to show in the photos. The CNW Historical Society's map archive aided in this information. [4]
CNW Track from North
The third track came from Norfolk, Nebraska to the north via Hooper and Nickerson. It split just north of town with one track curving around the west side of Fremont, and the other followed what is now a tree lined path as well as Clarmar Avenue joining other CNW track at the roundhouse. This track According to a verbal source, the track was gone by the 1950s. (See path on map at rr-pics)
The Official Nebraska Railroad Map from 1915[5] shows the track from Nickerson splitting just north of town.
The Fremont to Norfolk track was laid by the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad between 1869 and 1871. The CNW acquired the FE&MV in 1903 and abandoned the track in 1984. Since 1985 the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad currently operates excursion trains on the 17 miles of track from Fremont to Hooper. [6] However, in recent years excursions terminated in Nickerson as a bridge between Hooper and Nickerson has been washed out and is being reconstructed.
Burlington Northern
Fremont is located on the Ashland to Sioux City route of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe. The Fremont Burlington Station was built in the early 1900s and still stands today.
According to the Guide to North American Railroad Hot Spots, Fremont is on the Burlington's "Sioux Line" from Ashland, Nebraska to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad and Fremont Dinner Train
Excursion trains including the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad as well as the Fremont Dinner Train also operate out of Fremont. They both use the old CNW line that goes north to Nickerson, Nebraska and Hooper, Nebraska.
References
- ↑ John C. Fremont Wikipedia entry. URL retrieved on March 7, 2009.
- ↑ UNL - Virtual Nebraska: Our Towns - Fremont. URL retrieved on March 7, 2009.
- ↑ UP End of Track Dateline 1865-1869. URL retrieved on March 7, 2009.
- ↑ CNW Historical Society's map archive. URL retrieved on March 7, 2009.
- ↑ Official Nebraska Railroad Map from 1915. URL retrieved on March 7, 2009.
- ↑ Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad Wikipedia entry. URL retrieved on March 7, 2009.
