Piatt County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Organization and Construction of the Principal Railroads, 1883

Chapter 10: Organization and Construction of the Principal Railroads

THE Baltimore and Ohio and Chicago railroad was organized as the Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Chicago Railway Company, March 13, 1872, and in 1877 was changed to the present name. It was put in operation November 17, 1874, from junction of the Illinois Central railroad to Chicago Junction, Ohio, a distance of 262.5 miles. The proportion of the road in Illinois is 5.90 miles.

The Cairo and St. Louis railroad was chartered February 16, 1865, and the main line was put in operation from East St. Louis to Cairo March 1, 1875 - a distance of 151|- miles. The road had been operated, however, as construction progressed, for two years previous. The aggregate length of all its tracks in Illinois is 161 miles.

The Cairo and Vincennes railway was organized under the general railroad laws of Illinois, July 9, 1880. The length of the main line, from Cairo, Illinois, to Vincennes, Indiana, is 157+ miles, 150+ miles of which are in Illinois.

The Chicago and Alton Railroad Company was organized at Chicago on October 16, 1862. The original name of this company was the "Alton and Sangamon Railroad Company," and the date of the original charter was February 27, 1847. At the time of the fourth act of amendment, June 19, 1852, the name was changed to Chicago and Mississippi Railroad Company, and at the third amendment after this change, and on Febrilary 14, 1855, the name was changed to the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad Company. By an act of January 21, 1857, the name was changed to St. Louis, Alton and Chicago Railway Company, whose railroad and property was acquired by the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company.

Organization And Construction Of Railroads

On April 5, 18TO, this company purchased the unfinished road of the "Hamilton, Lacon and Eastern Railroad Company," and on September 5, 1879, the road and branch road of the Chicago and Illinois River Railroad Company was purchased. The former road was incorporated March 7, 1867, and the latter February 28, 1867. The following roads have been leased to the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company : The road of the Joliet and Chicago Railroad Company, incorporated February 15, 1855 ; the road of the Alton and St. Louis Railroad Company, incorporated February 4, 1859 ; the road of the St. Louis, Jacksonville and Chicago Railroad Company ; the road of the Louisiana and Missouri River Railroad Company, incorporated March 10, 1859 ; and the roads of the Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago Railroad Company.

The length of the main line of the Chicago and Alton road, from Chicago to East St. Louis, is 280.70 miles. The branch lines in Illinois aggregate 295.58 miles in length, while the aggregate length of all the tracks, including sidings, double tracks, etc., is 754.17 miles. The number of stations in Illinois is one hundred and fifteen.

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, with its branches, is made up of several short lines. The Chicago and Aurora Railroad Company, which was first chartered June 22, 1851, and the Central Military Tract Company united their roads July 9, 1856, and formed the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. This company owns several branch roads, and the aggregate length of the main lines and branch roads in Illinois is 1,131+ miles, and there are one hundred and sixty-eight stations in this state.

The Chicago and Eastern railroad was first organized as the Chicago, Danville and Yincennes railroad, and was chartered February 16, 1865. Several changes and consolidations have been made in connection with the road, the last of which was on March 8, 1881, when the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad and Danville and Grape Creek railroad consolidated as the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company. The aggregate length of track in Illinois is 177 miles, and the number of stations is thirty-five.

The Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway Company was formed by the consolidation of a number of railways under the laws of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The consummation of these consolidations was made April 7, 1880, and the present name was given to the corporation. Only 34.89 miles of the track lie within Illinois, but there are fifteen stations.

The Chicago and Iowa railroad was put in operation May, 1872, and was formed by the consolidation of the Ogle and Carroll County and the Chicago and Iowa railroads. The former was chartered February 18, 1857, and the latter March 30, 1869. The aggregate length of track in Illinois, including the leased line from Flagg Center to Rockford, is 115.93 miles, and there are twenty-two stations.

The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway was organized on May 5, 1863, under the name of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company. The present name was given it on February 11, 1874. There are 295.77 miles of the track and seventy-four stations in Illinois.

The present Chicago and Northwestern railway was begun in 1848 by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company, under a charter which dated January 16, 1836. The Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company was organized June 7, 1859. Many purchases, leases and consolidations have been made, and now the company owns 636.25 miles of track in Illinois, along which there are one hundred and twenty-one stations.

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company was formed August 20, 1866, by the consolidation of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, of Iowa, which was chartered February 7, 1851, and the Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Company, which was chartered February 27, 1847. The main line from Chicago to Rock Island was put in operation July 10, 1854. This company operates 397.51 miles of track, in Illinois, along which there are fiftyfour stations.

The Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad Company was organized June 6, 1879. This line was open for operation to Twelfth street, Chicago, in December, 1880. It is made use of as a terminus into the city by the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway Company, Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and the "YV abash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company. In all there are only 48.38 miles of track and eleven stations in Illinois.

The Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago railway, in addition to several other roads, operates the Cincinnati, La Fayette and Chicago railroad, 33.05 miles of which is in Illinois.

10, 1869, and was built first a narrow gauge, but was changed to the standard gauge. The length is 52.02 miles and there are fifteen, stations. ,

The Danville and Southwestern railroad was chartered March 23, 1869, under the name of the Paris and Danville Railroad Company. The road was put in operation from Danville to Paris in 1872. There are 108.57 miles of track and thirty-three stations in Illinois.

The East St. Louis and Carondelet railway exists under a charter approved February 18, 1857. The main line was put in operation September 26, 1872, and the name was changed to the present one April 19, 1873. The aggregate length of tracks is 13.50 miles.

The East St. Louis connecting railway was put in operation October 28, 1879. The articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state of Illinois January 4, 187£j. There are but 3.30 miles of track in the road.

The Fulton County Narrow Gauge Railway Company was organized in the month of August, 1878, and the wrhole line was put in operation in December. 1880. The length of the track, from Havana, Illinois, to Fairview, Illinois, is 28.05 miles, and there are six stations.

The Grand Tower Mining, Manufacturing and Transportation Company was named April 9, 1869. An act to incorporate the Mount Carbon Coal Company was dated January 24,- 1835. The name was changed from the Mount Carbon Railroad Company to present name on the date above mentioned, and the main line began operation in 1866. The length of all tracks is 31 miles, and the number of stations is six.

The Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railway Company, which was organized January 11, 1873, after several consolidations with other roads, was merged into the W abash system May 1, 1881. The length of the main line in Illinois is 67.5 miles, and the number of stations is eighteen.

1852. A number of consolidations and leases have been made and now the road operates 1,108.33 miles of track in Illinois, along which there are two hundred and four stations. '

The Illinois Midland railway is a consolidation of several railways. The first portion of the road was chartered February 18, 1861. The length of the entire track in Illinois is 179+ miles, and there are thirtyeight stations.

S2 A Brief History Of Illinois

The main line of the Illinois and St. Louis Railroad Company was put in operation April, 1871. There are thirteen stations in Illinois, and the aggregate length of track is 26 miles.

The present company took possession of the Indiana, Bloomington and Western railway August 9, 1879. In March, 1881, this company was consolidated with the Ohio, Indiana and Pacific Railroad Company. The company leases some roads. The entire length of track in Illinois is 144.37 miles, arid there are thirty stations.

The Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield Railway Company is a consolidation of two companies chartered under the name of Indiana and Illinois Railroad Company. The final consolidation, by which the present company's full possession was effected, was made November 16, 1875. There are 80.27 miles of track and thirteen stations in Illinois.

The Jacksonville Southeastern Railway Company was organized June 28, 1879. The company operates 56.78 miles of track, along which are thirteen stations.

The Lake Erie and Western Railway Company was organized January 1, 1880, by the consolidation of a number of roads, and operates 87.06 miles of track in Illinois. There are seventeen stations in this state.

The first charter for any portion of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company was granted April 22, 1835. This present company was formed in 1869, by the consolidation of several companies. The length of track in Illinois is 54.50, while there are seven stations.

The present Louisville, New Albany and St. Louis Railway Company was formed by the consolidation of two companies August 15, 1878. There are 18 miles of track and six stations in Illinois.

The Louisville and Nashville railroad was incorporated by an act of the Kentucky legislature, approved March 5, 1850. It controls many branch roads and operates 207.3 miles of track in Illinois. There are seventy stations in Illinois.

_ The date of the original charter of the Michigan Central Railroad Company is March 28, 1846. The building of the road, however, was begun by the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad Company. The company controls several roads under leases, and operates 67.44 miles in Illinois. The number of stations in Illinois is ten.

The Moline and Southeastern Narrow Gauge Railway Company was organized March 27, 1878, and the construction of the road was commenced in September, 1878. There are but ten miles of track and two stations in Illinois.

The original charter for the Ohio and Mississippi railroad in Illinois was granted February 12, 1861. The company operates several branch lines, and the aggregate length of track operated in Illinois is 417.62 miles. The number of stations in Illinois is eighty-five.

The road now owned by the Peoria, Decaturand Evan sville Railway -Company was commenced in 1869. Several consolidations and leases liave been made by the present company. The aggregate length of track is 220.1 miles, and the number of stations in Illinois is fifty-three. The original charter of the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad Company was approved June 11, 1861. Several changes have been made in the property of the company, and since December 15, 1879, the road has been operated under the present name, but the reorganization is not yet complete. There are, twenty-two stations in this state, and the aggregate length of the track is 83+ miles.

The Peoria and Pekin Union Railway Company was organized September 28, 1878, and the line was put in operation by this company February 1, 1881. It also operates some leased track. The company operates 33.09 miles of track, along which are four stations.

The Rock Island and Mercer County railroad was organized in May, 1876, and was constructed the same year. The aggregate length of track is 28.85 miles, and there are six stations.

The St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad Company was incorporated June 24, 1872, under an act approved February 28, 1861. It has control of several branch roads, while a part of the road is leased to the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad Company. The aggregate length of track in Illinois is 355 miles, and there are forty-five stations.

The St. Louis Coal Railroad Company was organized October 15, 1879, and the main line was completed August, 1880. It operates, under lease, the railroad between Carbon dale and Marion. The entire length of track is^29 miles, and the number of stations seven.

The Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis railroad was sold to the St. Louis, Rock Island and Chicago Railroad Company. This road was then sold to and is now operated as a branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincv railroad. The entire length of all the tracks is 344+ miles, and there are sixty-one stations in the state.

The Springfield, EfKngham and Southeastern Railway Company was formed by the consolidation of two other companies. The aggregate length of track is 58.75 miles, and there are eleven stations along; the road.

The original charter of the Springfield and Northwestern company was dated March 24, 1869. The main line was put in operation December, 1874. The Wabasli company is now operating the road. The aggregate length of tracks is 47.7 miles, and there are nine stations on the road.

- The Sycamore, Cortland and Chicago Railroad Company took the present name in 1877. The road was chartered in 1858 under the Sycamore and Cortland Railway Company. There are but 6.90 milesin the track.

The Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad Company was named March 6, 1865. It was incorporated January 26, 1847, under the name of Terre Haute and Richmond Railroad Company. This road operates 188.03 miles of track in Illinois, upon which there are thirtynine stations.

The Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railroad is owned and operated by the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company. The aggregate length of track in Illinois is 281.87 miles.

The Union Stock Yards and Transit Company, of Chicago, was organized under a charter of February 13, 1865, by which it was required to construct a railway from the yards so as to connect the same with all the tracks of railroads which terminate in Chicago' between the lake sb,ore and southwest corner of the city. The length of track now constructed and used for that purpose is about 45 miles. The above named company has no organization as a railroad company, and operates no railroad, but owns and keeps in repair the above-mentioned track.

The AV abash, Chester and Western Railroad Company was organized February 20, 1878, and is formed by the consolidation and purchase of several roads. The aggregate length of track is 45.55 miles and the number of stations fifteen.

Officers Of The State Of Illinois

elation of several companies. The Great Western Railway Company was organized in 1859 and the Toledo and Wabash railway was organized inr!S62. These two roads consolidated in 1865 and took the name of Toledo Wabash and Western railway. This railway was placed in the hands of a receiver in 1875, and in February, 1877, the Wabash Railway Company acquired the property of the Toledo, Wabash and Western railway. November 10, 1879, the Wabash railway consolidated with the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern railway, taking the name of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company. The aggregate length of track belonging to this company in Illinois is 1,265.68 miles, and there are two hundred and eighty-four stations.