Boone County and Jefferson City Railroad
| Company type | Railroad operator |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Columbia, Missouri , United States |
Area served | Boone County, Missouri |
| Owner | City of Columbia, Missouri |
The Columbia Branch is a rail corridor located in Boone County, Missouri, extending from Columbia, Missouri to Centralia, Missouri. At Centralia, it links with the St. Louis District operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway. Initially built in 1867 by the Boone County and Jefferson City Railroad, ownership now rests with the city of Columbia, while operations are managed by the Columbia Terminal Railroad.
History
The Boone County and Jefferson City Railroad was established in 1857 with the objective of connecting Columbia to Jefferson City, Missouri, but construction was postponed due to the American Civil War. Following the conflict, in 1866, the company was leased by the North Missouri Railroad, whose main route ran east–west through Centralia, situated approximately north of Columbia. The branch line officially commenced service on October 29, 1867.
Although the line never extended past Columbia, it experienced several changes in ownership. In 1872, the North Missouri reorganized as the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Railway, while a year later, in 1873, the Boone County and Jefferson City Railroad was renamed the Boone County and Boonville Railway. Between 1879 and 1902, lease agreements transferred control among various Wabash-related companies. Ultimately, in 1902, the Wabash established the Columbia and St. Louis Railroad to fully acquire both the Boone County and Boonville Railway and the Columbia Branch.
In 1964, the Norfolk and Western Railway leased Wabash; this entity merged with the Southern Railway in 1982 to create the Norfolk Southern Railway. When Norfolk Southern intended to discontinue service on this line in 1987, the city of Columbia purchased it and formed the Columbia Terminal Railroad to continue freight operations along the route.