CHICAGO & WESTERN INDIANA RAILROAD COMPANY
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Historical Snapshot: Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad Company The C. & W.I. was incorporated on June 6, 1879, to interconnect many Chicago area railroads and belt lines to each other. In that vein, in 1882 they absorbed the South Chicago & West Indiana R.R. and the Chicago & Westerrn Indiana Belt Railway. In 1912, the C. & W.I. acquired the Chicago Union Transfer Railway. Also, On November 1, 1912, a 999 year lease of some of its railroad, equipment and additional trackage rights was granted to the Belt Railway of Chicago. The B. R. of C. was a company owned by 12 connecting railroads to improve the interchange of cars and trains. As of December 31, 1916, Moody's 1917 Railroad Manual reported that the C.& W.I. "owns an extensive system of terminals and belt lines in and arounmd the city of Chicago; also passenger and freight depots, reality, etc. in the heart of the city, including the Dearborn Union Passenger Terminal." 1917 satistics included: 151.45 miles of line, 99 steam locomotives (86 of which were leased to the Belt Railway of Chicago), and 1,326 freight cars (358 of which were on lease to B. R. of C.), Altogether, they connected to, and offered rentals, leases and trackage rights to, 34 different railroad companies. The company was well diversified and brought in significant profit year after year. In 1931, the Pere Marquette bought approximately 41 miles of owned/leased lines in South Chicago. In 1933 the company acquired the Burlington, South Chicago Terminal Railroad. Statistics from 1940: Total milage - 587 miles; 179 miles owned and operated including five separate main lines and 75 miles of yard trackage. 338 miles leased to B.R. of C.. Locomotives 61 (47 leased to B.R. of C.), 12 passenger cars, Freight cars - 287 (115 leased to B.R.of C). As the company continued into the 1950's and 1960's, mergers became many. Some companies failed, others were abandoned or absorbed. Rail passenger service declined to the point, first local service and then long haulto almost nothing because of changes in transportation technology. Eventually, Chicago was not the industrial center once served by so many railroiads. As the 1970's began Amtrak took over most intercity and interstate passenger service. Most remaining local services were taken over by Metro agencies. The Dearborn Union Passenger Terminal was closed in 1971. In 1983 the Belt Railway of Chicago became its own entity through reorganization, acquiring much of the C. & W. I. Like the Belt Railway of Chicago, the Chicago & Western Indiana was owned by five other railroad companies over the years. They included: The Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Erie, Wabash, Grand Trunk Western and Chicago, Illinois & Louisville. The Chicago & Western Indiana would go on providing a few remaining services until 1994. Today, Union Pacific, CSX, BNSF, and a few short lines operate over the former remaining Chicago & Western Indiana tracks.
All items in this section are shopping cart purchaseable.
C&WI 2-6-0 #205
Image, Chicago & Western Indiana 2-6-0 #205 Order No. CWI205I Photograph from the Paul Eilenberger Collection A nice little 2-6-0 locomotive powers this classic one combine car train along the Chicago & Western Indiana mainline near Oakdale Station, October, 1933. The #205 was a C&WI F-2 class locomotive built as #6240 by Rogers Shopping Cart 8.5" by 11", Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------C&WI 2-6-0 #210
Image, Chicago & W. Indiana 2-6-0 #210 1934 Order No. CWI210I Photograph from the Paul Eilenberger Collection A two car Chicago & Western Indiana passenger train pulled by J1 class 2-6-0 locomotive #210 makes the stop at Oakdale Station on this October 1934 day. Oakdale was where the C&WI Dolton Branch crossed the Rock Island South Chicago Branch. Shopping Cart 8.5" by 11", Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------C&WI 2-6-0 #212
Image, Chicago & W. Indiana 2-6-0 #212 1940 Order No. CWI212I Photograph from the Paul Eilenberger Collection A three car Chicago & Western Indiana passenger train pulled by J1 class 2-6-0 locomotive #212 is seen near 83st. Chicago. October, 1940. Shopping Cart 8.5" by 11", Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------C&WI 2-6-0 #212 "view A"
Image, Chicago & W. Indiana 2-6-0 #212 1940 Order No. CWI212AI Photograph from the Paul Eilenberger Collection A two car Chicago & Western Indiana passenger train pulled by J1 class 2-6-0 locomotive #212 is seen at 81st. Station, Chicago. June, 1940. Shopping Cart 8.5" by 11", Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------
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