West Liberty was founded back in 1838, long before the railroads arrived. Originally, as far as railroading goes, it was notable as the junction point between the Rock Island's east-west mainline (now the IAIS main) and the Rock's former north-south BCR&N mainline from Manly, Iowa, south through Cedar Rapids, West Liberty, and finally to Burlington. It was also where the double track west from Chicago narrowed down to single track as it headed west towards Des Moines and Omaha.

Today, West Liberty is the site of a major intermodal ramp on the IAIS, located just west of town along old US 6. This facility was opened 27-Jan-1997. The Rock's 1897 depot is restored, and serves as a park. The BCR&N mainline is gone, and the IAIS mainline is only a single track.