Chicago & North Pacific Railroad

Synopsis
The Chicago & North Pacific Railroad was a class 2 rail carrier operating from Chicago to South Dakota. the railroad specialized in long-haul freight service, but also promoted "The Chicagoan", it's crack Passenger train. the C&NP was owned by several railroads, most notably the Nickle Plate Road, which intended to use the C&NP as a competitor to the Milwaukee Road, as well as an entry into the pacific northwest. while it never made a major dent in the Milwaukee's profits, the C&NP was still a successful railroad for most of it's life

Route
The C&NP was projected to reach Spokane, but only made it as far west as South Dakota. The Railroad functioned as an "Air Line" meaning that it did not prioritize service at intermediate stops, but rather a direct connection to South Dakota. The Railroad had a handful of stops, mostly sidings where trains could pass each other.

Equipment
The C&NP Didn't own much of it's own equipment, but rather Borrowed it from the NKP. The C&NP's only locomotives were it's #1 and it's #57. Passenger equipment was limited and the only freight equipment was a singular Boxcar. all other equipment was borrowed or leased to the railroad.

Downfall and Bankruptcy
With the NKP's Merger with the N&W, the C&NP became a N&W liability. The N&W showed little interest in the C&NP, as it was already losing money. But a handful of Railroaders convinced the company to keep operating the railroad. in the late 1970s, the Milwaukee Road cut operations in the Dakotas, severing the westernmost connection to the C&NP. in 1979, the C&NP was abandoned by the N&W. The Junkers showed up less than a month after. The C&NP was pulled up in only two weeks, thus ending an era.