Iowa Railroads (Iowa) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Iowa Railroads (Iowa)

Last Updated: October 31, 2024, 19:13 pm UTC

Known railroads and their operations for Iowa are listed here. Subdivisions that cross state lines will only contain information and GPS ranges to approximately the state line to prevent unnecessary overlap

Due to operational changes, mergers and general changes, some railroad radio channels may be reused by the same or adjacent railroads. However, if using RadioReference aware scanners or software, you can reduce seeing or duplicating this information by scanning just the subdivisions or locations that you are interested in

Railroads are listed by size starting with the largest and ending with historical/tourist operations and in alphabetical order

Passenger trains can be heard on the respective railroad they are operating on unless passenger stations or yards have specific radio assignments. Those frequencies will be listed under the proper passenger railroad category

Short alpha names are comprised of the railroads AAR reporting mark, AAR channel number and subdivision or major use function. The description field will contain actual use or location information to provide the best possible information for various scanners, users and readability

When a "Road" and "Dispatcher" channel are both listed, both should be monitored for complete communications. The road channel is typically used by crews traveling along the railroad, switching, verbal defect detectors and similar operations. Crews will typically need to go to the "dispatcher" channel to receive track warrants, track authority or other information that may be required to start or continue the trip

Frequencies

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BNSF Railway

Burlington Northern Santa Fe

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.695	KSM269	BM	CSQ	BNSF Ottumwa	Ottumwa Subdivision - Galesburg, IL to Halpin, Iowa	FMN	Railroad
161.100		BM	CSQ	BNSF Creston	Creston Subdivision - Halpin to Creston	FMN	Railroad
160.905		BM	CSQ	BNSF CrstGwd	Creston to Glenwood	FMN	Railroad
161.415		BM	CSQ	BNSF GwdLinc	Glenwood to Lincoln, NE	FMN	Railroad
161.100		BM	CSQ	BNSF DM Line	Albia to Des Moines line Dispatcher/Road	FMN	Railroad
161.160		BM	CSQ	BNSF Marshal	Marshall Subdivision - Sioux City Northward	FMN	Railroad
161.385		BM	CSQ	BNSF SuCity	Sioux City Subdivision - Sioux City Southward	FMN	Railroad
161.415		BM	CSQ	BNSF Bayard	Bayard Subdivision - Council Bluff to Bayard	FMN	Railroad
161.160		BM	CSQ	BNSF K-Line	Burlington to West Quincy, MO	FMN	Railroad
160.380		BM	CSQ	BNSF FtMadis	Fort Madison	FMN	Railroad
161.100		BM		BNSF Dub 1	Dubuque Area Road Channel 1	FMN	Railroad
160.515	KNHN553	BM	CSQ	Bur North RR	Sioux City and Woodbury County	FMN	Railroad
160.650	KNHN553	BM	CSQ	Bur North RR	Sioux City and Woodbury County	FMN	Railroad
161.235	KNHN553	BM	CSQ	Bur North RR	Sioux City and Woodbury County	FMN	Railroad
160.365	KZJ461	BM		BNSF DubARES	Dubuque Area ARES track control	FMN	Data

BNSF Council Bluffs Yard

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.070		BM	CSQ	BNSF CoB Yd	BNSF Yard Channel - Council Bluffs Area	FMN	Railroad
161.340		BM	CSQ	BNSF Cob Yd	BNSF Yard Channel - Counci Bluffs Area	FMN	Railroad

BNSF Fort Madison Yard

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.605		BM	CSQ	AAR 033	33 BNSF Yard - Chillicothe Sub (Fort Madison Yard)	FMN	Railroad

BNSF West Quincy Yard

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.980		BM	CSQ	AAR 058	58 BNSF Yard - Brookfield Sub (W. Quincy Yard)	FMN	Railroad

Canadian National Railway

General Operations

Canadian National Railway - Map of Operation

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.190	KNFM585	BM	CSQ	CN Ch 1	Channel 1 - Road	FMN	Railroad
161.460	KDI403	BM	CSQ	CN Ch 3	Channel 3 - Yard/Switching	FMN	Railroad
160.755	KNFM585	BM	CSQ	CN Ch 4	Channel 4 - Yard/Switching	FMN	Railroad

Waterloo Terminal

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.920	KDI403	BM	CSQ	AAR 054	Channel 2 - Waterloo Yard/Switching	FMN	Railroad
161.280	KDI404	BM	CSQ	AAR 078	Channel 5 - Waterloo Roundhouse	FMN	Railroad

Canadian Pacific Railway

Davenport Subdivsion

MP 140.9 (Island) to MP 195.7 (Nahant)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.085	WPMF607	BM	CSQ	CP65 Davenport	Island to Nahant	FMN	Railroad
160.530	WPMF607	BM	CSQ	CP28 Yard WDaven	West Davenport Yard	FMN	Railroad
161.430		BM	CSQ	CP88 Yard Nahant	Nahant Yard	FMN	Railroad
160.770		BM		Nahant-DeerCreek	Nahant (MP 195.7) to Deer Creek South (MP 153.8)	FMN	Railroad
161.370		BM		DeerCreek-Island	Deer Creek South to Island	FMN	Railroad

Laredo Subdivsion

MP 302.8 (Ottumwa) to MP 405.1 (Laredo)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.770		BM	CSQ	CP44 Laredo	Ottumwa to Laredo North	FMN	Railroad
161.430		BM	CSQ	CP88 Yard	Yard	FMN	Railroad

Marquette Subdivsion

MP 0.0 (Sabula Jct) to MP 159.0 (Bluff)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.370		BM	CSQ	CP84 Marquette	Sabula Jct to Bluff	FMN	Railroad
161.430		BM	CSQ	CP88 Yard	Yard	FMN	Railroad

Mason City Subdivsion

MP 0.0 (Marquette) to MP 116.7 (Mason City)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.370		BM	CSQ	CP84 Mason City	Marquette to Mason City	FMN	Railroad
161.085		BM	CSQ	CP65 Yard	Mason City Yard	FMN	Railroad

Ottumwa Subdivsion

MP 195.7 (Nahant) to MP 302.8 (Ottumwa)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.770		BM	CSQ	CP44 Ottumwa	Nahant to Ottumwa	FMN	Railroad
161.430		BM	CSQ	CP88 Yard	Yard	FMN	Railroad

Owatonna Subdivsion

MP 0.0 (Mason City, IA) to MP 123.8 (Comus, MN)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.770		BM	CSQ	CP44 Owatonna	Mason City to Comus	FMN	Railroad
161.085		BM	CSQ	CP88 Yard	Mason City Yard	FMN	Railroad

Sheldon Subdivsion

MP 116.7 (Mason City) to MP 153.4 (Sheldon)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.770		BM	CSQ	CP44 Sheldon	Mason City to Sheldon	FMN	Railroad
161.085		BM	CSQ	CP88 Yard	Mason City Yard	FMN	Railroad

Eldridge Spur

MP 0.0 (Waterworks) to MP 9.7 (Eldridge)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.085		BM	CSQ	CP65 EldridgeSpr	Waterworks to Eldridge	FMN	Railroad

Norfolk Southern

Des Moines

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.440	WQBN518	BM		NS Yard	Yard	FMN	Railroad

Union Pacific

Blair Subdivision

MP 326 (East Missouri Valley to MP 366 (Fremont, NE)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.740		BM	CSQ	UP42 Blair	Missouri Valley to Fremont, NE	FMN	Railroad
160.470		BM	CSQ	UP24 Cargill	Cargill Industrial Lead	FMN	Railroad

Boone Subdivision

MP 202.2 (Boone) to MP326.2 (East Missouri Valley)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.890		BM	CSQ	UP52 Boone	Boone to East Missouri Valley	FMN	Railroad
160.245		RM	CSQ	UP09 Yard	Boone Yard	FMN	Railroad

Clinton Subdivision

MP 2.1 (Clinton) to MP202.2 (Boone)

Frequency	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.040	BM	CSQ	UP62 Clinton	Clinton to CP A105 (Blairstown)	FMN	Railroad
160.890	BM	CSQ	UP52 Clinton	CP A105 (Blairstown) to Boone	FMN	Railroad
161.175	BM	CSQ	UP71 CR Lead	Cedar Rapids Industrial Lead	FMN	Railroad
160.230	BM	CSQ	UP08 Yard	Marshalltown Yard	FMN	Railroad
160.320	BM	CSQ	UP14 Yard	Beverly Yard	FMN	Railroad
160.575	BM	CSQ	UP31 Yard	Clinton Yard	FMN	Railroad

Estherville Subdivision

MP 0.0 (Goldfield) to MP 78.5 (Superior)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UP71 Esterville	Goldfield to Superior	FMN	Railroad
160.770		BM	CSQ	UP44 Hartley	Hartley Industrial Lead	FMN	Railroad

Fairmont Subdivision

MP 0.7 (Mason City) to MP 108.3 (Butterfield, MN)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.575		BM	CSQ	UPRRFrmntSub	Mason City to Butterfield, MN	FMN	Railroad

Falls City Subdivision

MP 480.8 (Council Bluffs) to MP 289.1 (Kansas City)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.740		BM	CSQ	UPRR FC Sub	Council Bluffs to Bellevue, NE	FMN	Railroad

Fort Dodge Subdivision

MP 76.0 (Forest City) to MP 0.0 (Moorland)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR FD Sub	Forest City to Moorland	FMN	Railroad

Jewell Subdivision

MP 97.2 (North Burt) to MP 0.0 (West Ames)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR Jwl Sub	North Burt to Ames	FMN	Railroad

Laurens Subdivision

MP 0.0 (Rolfe) to MP 28.5 (Albert City)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR Lz Sub	Rolfe to Albert City	FMN	Railroad

Mason City Subdivision

MP 192.6 (Mason City) to MP 77.4 (Broadview)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.845		BM	CSQ	UPRR MsnCity	Mason City to Broadview	FMN	Railroad

Omaha Subdivision

MP 329.2 (MIssouri Valley) to MP 39.2 (Fremont, NE) via Omaha, NE

Frequency	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.740	BM	CSQ	UPRROmahaSub	Missouri Valley to Omaha, NE	FMN	Railroad
160.680	BM	CSQ	UPRR YrdMstr	Council Bluffs Yardmaster	FMN	Railroad
160.470	BM	CSQ	UPRR Sw Eng	Council Bluffs Yard Job 62 & 72	FMN	Railroad
160.515	BM	CSQ	UPRR Sw Eng	Council Bluffs Yard Job 75	FMN	Railroad
160.650	BM	CSQ	UPRR Sw Eng	Council Bluffs Yard Job 63, 65, & 78	FMN	Railroad
161.040	BM	CSQ	UPRR Sw Eng	Council Bluffs Yard Job 37, 84, & 86	FMN	Railroad
160.350	BM	CSQ	UPRR W Lead	Council Bluffs West Lead	FMN	Railroad
161.550	BM	CSQ	UPRR S End	Council Bluffs South End	FMN	Railroad
160.590	BM	CSQ	UPRR Diesel	Council Bluffs Diesel House	FMN	Railroad
160.890	BM	CSQ	UPRR Carmen	Council Bluffs Car Department	FMN	Railroad
160.770	BM	CSQ	UPRR CrewVan	Crew Vans	FMN	Railroad

Oskaloosa Subdivision

MP 246.5 (Marshalltown) to MP 312.1 (Bridgeport)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR OskySub	Marshalltown to Bridgeport	FMN	Railroad

Perry Subdivision

MP 353.3 (IAIS East Connection) to MP 365.0 (West Des Moines)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.320		BM	CSQ	UPRR PerrySu	Short Line Yard to West Des Moines	FMN	Railroad

Rake Subdivision

MP 0.0 (Bricelyn) to MP 57.0 (Esterville)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR RakeSub	Bricelyn to Esterville	FMN	Railroad

Sioux City Subdivision

MP 76.8 (Sioux City) to MP 5.9 (California Jct.)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR SX Sub	Sioux City to California Jct.	FMN	Railroad
160.680		BM	CSQ	UPRR SX YM	Sioux City Yardmaster	FMN	Railroad

Tara Subdivision

MP 70.1 (Mallard) to MP 0.0 (Grand Junction)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.175		BM	CSQ	UPRR TaraSub	Mallard to Grand Junction	FMN	Railroad

Trenton Subdivision

MP 73.3 (Des Moines to MP 502.8 (Sheffield, MO)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.845		BM	CSQ	UPRRTrntnSub	Des Moines to Carisle	FMN	Railroad
161.040		BM	CSQ	UPRRTrntnSub	Carisle to Polo, MO	FMN	Railroad

Worthington Subdivision

MP 506.3 (Sioux City) to MP 121.0 (St. James, MN)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.040		BM	CSQ	UPRRWrthngtn	Sioux City to St. James, MN	FMN	Railroad
160.680		BM	CSQ	UPRR SC YM	Sioux City Yardmaster	FMN	Railroad

Iowa Interstate Railroad

Cedar Rapids Subdivision

MP 4.5 (CIC/Smith-Dows Yard) to MP 21.8 (Yocum Connection/Iowa City Sub)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.220	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS74 Cedar Rpd	Yocum Connection to MP 6.5	FMN	Railroad
160.305	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	SMITH-DOWS YD SW	900/950 Yard Switching	FMN	Railroad
160.500	WNBF543	BM	192.8 PL	CIC26 Yard	MP 6.5 to 900/950 Yards and Yocum Connection Area	FMN	Railroad

Council Bluffs Subdivision

MP 359.5 (Des Moines) to MP 487.3 (Council Bluffs)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.220	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS74 Council B	Des Moines to Council Bluffs	FMN	Railroad
160.305	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS13 Yards	Yards	FMN	Railroad
160.410		BM	CSQ	IAIS20 CBEC	Council Bluffs Energy Center	FMN	Railroad

Iowa City Subdivision

MP 173.4 (Silvis IL) to MP 260 (South Amana IA)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.220	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS74 Iowa City	Rock Island to South Amana	FMN	Railroad
160.305	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS13 Yard	Yards	FMN	Railroad
161.340		BM	CSQ	IAIS82 SA Roundh	South Amana Roundhouse	FMN	Railroad

Newton Subdivsion

MP 260 (South Amana) to MP 353.2 (East Des Moines)

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.220	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS74 Newton	South Amana to East Des Moines	FMN	Railroad
160.305	WNBF543	BM	CSQ	IAIS13 Yards	Yards	FMN	Railroad

Burlington Junction Railway

Operations

Burlington Junction Railway is a short line freight railroad that operates industrial switching rail lines in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri as well as providing in-plant contract switching services

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.445	WPXL789	M	CSQ	BJRY23 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad
160.950	WPXL789	M	CSQ	BJRY56 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway

Operations

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railroad also known as CRANDIC operates at the north end in Cedar Rapids, Hills to the south and Amana to the west. A map can be found here

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.500	KAG531	BM	192.8 PL	CIC26 Yard Mngr	Yard Manager	FMN	Railroad
160.635	KAG531	BM	125 DPL	CIC35 Job 2/12	Job 2/12	FMN	Railroad
161.115	KAG531	BM	223 DPL	CIC67 Job 3/13	Job 3/13	FMN	Railroad
160.860	KAG531	BM	192.8 PL	CIC50 Job 4/14	Job 4/14	FMN	Railroad
160.710	KAG531	BM	192.8 PL	CIC40 Job 5/15	Job 5/15	FMN	Railroad
160.215	KAG531	BM	107.2 PL	CIC07 Job 6/16	Job 6/16	FMN	Railroad
160.995	KAG531	BM	192.8 PL	CIC59 Job 7	Job 7	FMN	Railroad
161.055	KAG531	BM	192.8 PL	CIC63 MOW	Maintenance of Way	FMN	Railroad
160.350	WRBQ413	RM		CIC16 Rptr	Repeater Channel	DMR	Railroad
160.545	WRBQ413	RM	CC 2 TG 400 SL 1	CIC 29 RPTR SL 1	Repeater Channel	DMR	Railroad
160.545	WRBQ416	RM	CC 2 TG 500 SL 2	CIC 29 RPTR SL 2	Repeater Channel	DMR	Railroad
160.680	WRBQ413	F	CC 3 TG 700 SL 2	CIC38 Rptr	Repeater Channel	DMR	Railroad
461.400	WQIC791	F	162 DPL	CIC Job5/15 Link	Remote receiver for Channel 5	FMN	Railroad

Iowa Northern Railway

Operations

The Iowa Northern Railway operates 163 miles in Iowa between Cedar Rapids in eastern Iowa and Manly in north central Iowa

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.385	WNXL742	BM	CSQ	IANR85 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad

Iowa River Railroad

Operations

Iowa River Railroad operates a short line rail line between Steamboat Rock and Ackley

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.350	WQFL209	BM	CSQ	IARR16 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad

Iowa Southern Railway

Operations

Iowa Southern Railway, owned by Progressive Rail, operates the former Appanoose County Railroad between Albia and Centerville

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.290	WPZA567	BM	CSQ	ISRY12 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad
160.695	WPZA567	BM	CSQ	ISRY39 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad
160.770	WPZA567	BM	CSQ	ISRY44 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad
161.265	WPZA567	BM	CSQ	ISRY77 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad
161.460	WPZA567	BM	CSQ	ISRY90 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad

Iowa Traction Railway

Operations

Iowa Traction Railway is an electrified railroad that operates between Mason City and Clear Lake

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
161.475	WQOU510	BM		IATR91 Ops	Operations	FMN	Railroad

Waterloo Railroad

Operations

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.950	WSEJ610	BM		WTRL56 OPS	Operations	FMN	Railroad

Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad

Operations

Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad that operates freight and passenger excursions in Boone County

Frequency	License	Type	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
160.530	WPYB976	BM	BSVY28 Ops	CH 1 Repeater / Excursion Train operations	FMN	Railroad
160.710	WPYB976	BM	BSVY40 East	CH 3 East end switching	FMN	Railroad
160.365	WPYB976	RM	BSVY17 Shop	Ch 4 MoW / Shop	FMN	Railroad
160.260	WPYB976	BM	BSVY10 Yard	Ch 5 Boone Yard / Switching	FMN	Railroad

Midwest Central Railroad

Operations

Midwest Central Railroad is a 3 ft narrow gauge heritage railroad operating on the grounds of the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The track is a clockwise loop approximately 1 mile in length

Frequency	License	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
463.200	WPEP669	MCRR 1	Operations 1	FMN	Railroad
464.500	WPEP669	MCRR 2	Operations 2	FMN	Railroad
464.275	WPEP669	MCRR 3	Operations 3	FMN	Railroad
468.200	WPEP669	MCRR 4	Operations 4	FMN	Railroad