This is the story of the Southern Iowa Railway.
The main line of the Southern Iowa Ry between Albia and Centerville was once a branch of the Wabash Railroad. In 1885 the Wabash went into bankruptcy and line was reorganized as the Albia & Centerville. In 1914, the line was absorbed by the Centerville Light and Traction Company, which operated the local street railway. The combination of the Albia & Centerville and the street railway became the Centerville, Albia & Southern Ry. In 1916, the Albia, Centerville & Southern Ry was purchased by Iowa Southern Utilities, and in 1941 the railway became the Southern Iowa Ry.
The Mystic branch line of the railway served several mines. Passenger service was not the main revenue generator, however the railway ran 6 trains a day to Albia and had hourly service to Mystic. Local street car service ended in 1925, and all passenger service ended in 1933. In 1944, the Mystic line was cut back to Appanoose where there was a connection with the Milwaukee Road. In 1948 the Albia line was cut back to Moravia where there was interchange with the Wabash.
In the 1950s, the railroad became home to the Iowa Chapter of National Railway Historical Society. Three interurban cars were acquired, plus a Chicago & Great Western caboose. In 1958 1.5 miles of the Mystic branch was abandoned. In 1966 the wire was removed from most of the Moravia line, but remained in Moravia where Box Motor 101 was stationed for switching. Also in 1966, the Chariton River trestle burned and the line was severed. The wire at Centerville was removed, and the Moravia operation was abandoned on July 18, 1967. The Moravia operation was the final electric operation.
