Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2015) |
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad (
History
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad was organized in 1877 as a consolidation of three others: the
The management of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois and the Chicago and Indiana Coal Railway ("the Coal Road" or C&IC) became intertwined and eventually a connection was built between the two railroads between Goodland, Indiana (on the C&IC) and Momence (on the C&EI). By 1894 the Eastern had merged the C&IC. The C&EI continued this vigorous growth into the next decade.
In 1902, the
The Missouri Pacific Railroad began to quietly purchase C&EI stock in 1961. After approval was gained from the Interstate Commerce Commission, Mopac assumed control of the C&EI in May 1967.[1] One of the stipulations of the merger required sale of C&EI's Evansville line to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1969.[2] The line directly south of Chicago to near Danville was actually purchased by both railroads (and continues to be owned and operated jointly by MoPac and L&N's successors, Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation). The C&EI was maintained as a separate subsidiary for a few years, but Missouri Pacific merged it in 1976. The route from Woodland Junction, Illinois through Danville into Indiana became part of L&N and its successors (now CSX), while the western fork toward Thebes and St. Louis became MoPac/UP.
The Chicago terminal for the C&EI passenger trains was Dearborn Station, sometimes known as 'Polk Station.' LaSalle Street Station was used during Frisco control of the railroad.
The C&EI operated many streamliners. Its own trains, the Chicago to
Miles of road operated at year end: 945 in 1925, 863 in 1967, 643 in 1970 after L&N took over its piece. Track-miles operated: 1928 in 1925, 1435 in 1967, 1067 in 1970. In 1967 it reported 3173 million ton-miles of revenue freight and 41 million passenger-miles.
References
- ^ Lennon, J. Establishing Trails on Rights-of-Way. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Interior. p. 50.
- ^ Lennon, J. Establishing Trails on Rights-of-Way. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of the Interior. p. 53.
- ^ "Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, Table 1". Official Guide of the Railways. 101 (1). National Railway Publication Company. June 1968.
Bibliography
- Lyford, Will H. (1913). History of Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company to June 30, 1913. Chicago: The Gunthorp-Warren Printing Company. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
External links
- Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society (includes predecessor roads)
- A Brief History of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
- Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad System Map
- 1953 Chicago and Eastern Illinois timetable
- Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company Records at the Newberry Library