The following post shows a 1869 map which shows the route taken by the Chicago Northwestern RR through Iowa and Illinois. West of Boone, Iowa the major railroad towns included: Ogden, Grand Junction, Jefferson, Scranton, Ralston, Glidden, Carroll, Arcadia and Denison etc. East of Boone, Iowa the major railroad towns included: Ames, Nevada, Colo, State Center, Marshalltown, Montour, Tama, Belle Plaine, Blairstown, Watkins, Norway, Fairfax, Cedar Rapids, Mount Vernon, etc.

Again, the best way to use this map is to download to your harddrive and expand.