The Minnesota Central Railway was one of the first railroads in the state of Minnesota. The railroad originally incorporated as the Minnesota and Cedar Valley Railroad in 1856. Starting in 1864, the Minnesota Central laid tracks from Minneapolis across the Minnesota River to Mendota and then south toward Iowa. The goal was to link up with Iowa railroads that connected to Chicago and Milwaukee. It became part of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway I & M Division. Portions of the line are still active, within the CPKC Owatonna Subdivision. Some other portions are industrial sidings serviced by Progressive Rail, Inc.