(August 4, 1937-July 1, 2003)

NORTH End: Railroad tracks/First St., Albert City, Buena Vista County

Facing north, but heading east, on 197 (3/21/03)

The railroad tracks that 197 ends at exist now only between Albert City and Marathon. The Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific split from an east-west track between Spencer and Dickens and went southeast through Rockwell City, Jefferson, and Panora before turning east to parallel US 6 into Des Moines, according to the 1976 state map. Between 1981 and 1986 the track became part of the Chicago and Northwestern, and all track north of Jefferson was removed except for the Marathon-Albert City piece. Track between Yale (north of Panora) and Waukee was lifted by 1991, and by 1995 the only part of track in that area was between Yale and about IA 141. In 2000 the Union Pacific, which I think owned the routes by then, pulled all track west of Perry.

The asphalt on the left leading to the tracks is the road; the space between is for parking. The business district is behind me.

Closeup of signage (3/21/03)

State documents say "Railway Street" but it's signed as 1st Street.

Facing east, but heading north, on 197 (10/20/18)

Facing west, but heading south, at the beginning of 197 (10/20/18)

Facing west, but heading south, on 197 (3/21/03)

This is the first sign on 197 southbound, four blocks west of its end. Notice N14 is secretly multiplexed with the north-south part of 197 (see also the signage at the south end).

Facing west, but heading south, on 197 (10/20/18)

Facing north on 197 (3/21/03)

Also consider this assembly, which shows N14 continuing north while 197 goes into the business district.

Facing north on 197 (10/20/18)

Facing south on 197 (3/21/03)

This is the only leaving-town LGS I've seen with a "To" attached to it. Four blocks south of 197's east-west portion is C29.

SOUTH End: Stop sign, IA 3 and N14, Buena Vista County

Facing south on 197 (3/21/03)

Facing south on 197 (10/20/18)

Facing south on 197 (3/21/03)

Facing south on 197 (10/20/18)

Facing west on 3 (3/21/03)

Unlike nearly all other spurs a duplex was clearly marked on it, in this case N14 on 197's north-south part. I'm not quite sure what or where the historical site and museum is/are.

Facing west on 3 (3/21/03)

Facing west on 3 (3/21/03)

Albert City celebrates its Swedish heritage with its slogan (sign replaced, bottom). To the sign's right is the first 197 sign.

Facing east on 3 (8/31/08)

Facing east on 3 (8/31/08)

Facing east on 3 (10/20/18)

Last seen: 2003

Page created 4/26/03; last updated 12/22/08 3/21/19

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