The railroad reached other towns in Dallas County before Adel, and the town was threatened with losing the county seat. Adel business owners backed the Des Moines Western Railroad Company, which was soon renamed as the Des Moines, Adel, and Western. A narrow gauge railroad was built in the 1870s. The line was rebuilt as standard gauge after the Milwaukee Road purchased the line in the 1890s. Passenger service to Adel was discontinued in 1952, and the line was abandoned in 1987. The line has been repurposed into the popular Raccoon River Valley Trail.
The railroad reached other towns in Dallas County before Adel and the town was threatened with losing the county seat Adel business owners backed the Des Moines Western Railroad Company which was soon renamed as the Des Moines Adel and Western A narrow gauge railroad was built in the 1870s The line was rebuilt as standard gauge after the Milwaukee Road purchased the line in the 1890s Passenger service to Adel was discontinued in 1952 and the line was abandoned in 1987 The line has been repurposed into the popular Raccoon River Valley Trail