Omaha Belt Line
Encyclopedia
The Omaha Belt Line was a 15 miles (24.1 km) long railroad that circumnavigated Omaha, Nebraska
, starting in 1885. The organization behind the line, called the Omaha Belt Railway, was incorporated two years earlier, in 1883. Carrying passengers and cargo, the original line was operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad
, with the first line from the Sarpy County
line into Downtown Omaha
.
, whose officers first registered it as a "pet project" in 1883. In 1885 Jay Gould
decided to use it to run the Missouri Pacific Railroad
around Omaha. To ensure local agreement, Gould stacked the Omaha Belt Board of directors with local officials - except S.H.H. Clark, who was a former president of the Union Pacific - eager to work for Gould's growing empire.
After 1885, the railway was built entirely with materials from the Union Pacific. That use of combined resources was the subject of a later dispute between the railroad companies which they carried to the US Railway Commission. The case was eventually dropped. By the 1920s, 178 trains per day went in and out of Omaha carrying mail, passengers, and freight.
The line was discontinued in the early 1960s as public transportation service in Omaha became more efficient and popular. Today a portion of the Belt Line has been turned into the Field Club Trail, a recreational trail in Omaha
.
, the "short belt" industrial area and the Westside Junction. At the Junction the Belt Line interchanged with several other roads. The Belt connected with the Missouri Pacific Railroad
at South 48 and Leavenworth Streets. The railroad also had branches into Lincoln
, Wahoo
and Nebraska City
.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, starting in 1885. The organization behind the line, called the Omaha Belt Railway, was incorporated two years earlier, in 1883. Carrying passengers and cargo, the original line was operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
, with the first line from the Sarpy County
Sarpy County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 122,595 people, 43,426 households, and 33,220 families residing in the county. The population density was 510 people per square mile . There were 44,981 housing units at an average density of 187 per square mile...
line into Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
.
History
The line was first associated with the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, whose officers first registered it as a "pet project" in 1883. In 1885 Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
decided to use it to run the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
around Omaha. To ensure local agreement, Gould stacked the Omaha Belt Board of directors with local officials - except S.H.H. Clark, who was a former president of the Union Pacific - eager to work for Gould's growing empire.
After 1885, the railway was built entirely with materials from the Union Pacific. That use of combined resources was the subject of a later dispute between the railroad companies which they carried to the US Railway Commission. The case was eventually dropped. By the 1920s, 178 trains per day went in and out of Omaha carrying mail, passengers, and freight.
The line was discontinued in the early 1960s as public transportation service in Omaha became more efficient and popular. Today a portion of the Belt Line has been turned into the Field Club Trail, a recreational trail in Omaha
Trails in Omaha
Trails in Omaha, Nebraska include of paved trails as well as unpaved trails and paths for recreational usage throughout the city. Popular among bicyclists, runners, hikers and recreational walkers, these trails are included in comprehensive plans for the city of Omaha, the Omaha metro area,...
.
Lines and properties
Omaha Belt Line included the main yard at Nicholas Street in South Omaha, the "Alley" switching district in Downtown OmahaDowntown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
, the "short belt" industrial area and the Westside Junction. At the Junction the Belt Line interchanged with several other roads. The Belt connected with the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
at South 48 and Leavenworth Streets. The railroad also had branches into Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, Wahoo
Wahoo, Nebraska
Wahoo is a city in Saunders County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,508 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Saunders County.-History:Wahoo was founded in 1870...
and Nebraska City
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City is a city in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,228 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Otoe County...
.