Baltimore and Ohio and Chicago Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore and Ohio and Chicago Railroad (B&O&C) was a subsidiary of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
(B&O) that owned the line from Willard, Ohio
to Chicago, Illinois.
to Sandusky on Lake Erie
. Desiring to extend its system to Chicago, the B&O incorporated the Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Chicago Railway as separate companies in Ohio
and Indiana
on March 13 and March 14, 1872, respectively; a third company with the same name was incorporated in Illinois
on February 27, 1873. Surveying began immediately, and a line was soon located and constructed from a point on the SM&N named Chicago Junction (later renamed Willard after B&O president Daniel Willard
) to Chicago. Operations began on November 23, 1874 under lease to the B&O, which initially obtained trackage rights
over the Illinois Central Railroad
(IC) north of the new line's terminus in Brookdale, Chicago. On December 27, 1876, the Ohio and Indiana companies were consolidated to form the Baltimore and Ohio and Chicago Railroad, and simultaneously the Illinois company was renamed to match.
On August 1, 1891, the Akron and Chicago Junction Railroad was opened, under lease to the B&O&C, which subleased it to the B&O. This extended the line east from Chicago Junction to Akron, where it met newly-acquired B&O subsidiary Pittsburgh and Western Railway, forming a through line between Chicago and Pittsburgh and thence to Baltimore via the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad and B&O proper. The Baltimore and Ohio Connecting Railroad was completed on October 8, 1892, improving the B&O's Chicago terminal arrangements in conjunction with trackage rights over the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway from South Chicago to Brainerd, where the B&O Connecting began, and the Chicago and Northern Pacific Railroad from the B&O Connecting's other end into downtown Chicago. The B&O&C was subsequently disconnected from the IC, though a connection remained at the crossing of the IC's South Chicago Railroad. The B&O&C of Illinois was absorbed by the B&O&C of Ohio and Indiana at some time, and in 1949 the B&O acquired the properties of the B&O&C.
The line between Brookdale and a point southeast of the Calumet River
in South Chicago has since been abandoned, and operation near the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal
is via trackage rights over the Norfolk Southern Railway
's Chicago Line
, but the line east of Pine Junction in Gary remains a main line of B&O successor CSX Transportation
, which calls the old B&O&C the Willard Subdivision
(Willard-Deshler), Garrett Subdivision
(Deshler-Willow Creek), Barr Subdivision
(Willow Creek-Pine Junction), and Lake Subdivision (Pine Junction-South Chicago).
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
(B&O) that owned the line from Willard, Ohio
Willard, Ohio
Willard is a city in Huron County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,806. Willard is served by the Willard Memorial Library.-Geography:Willard is located at ....
to Chicago, Illinois.
History
In 1869 the B&O leased the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad (SM&N), which stretched north from Newark on the Central Ohio RailroadCentral Ohio Railroad
The Central Ohio Railroad was the third railroad to enter Columbus, Ohio, and the first to connect Columbus with the east coast. It eventually became a part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.- History :...
to Sandusky on Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. Desiring to extend its system to Chicago, the B&O incorporated the Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Chicago Railway as separate companies in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
on March 13 and March 14, 1872, respectively; a third company with the same name was incorporated in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
on February 27, 1873. Surveying began immediately, and a line was soon located and constructed from a point on the SM&N named Chicago Junction (later renamed Willard after B&O president Daniel Willard
Daniel Willard
Daniel Willard was a railroad executive best known as the president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1910 to 1941. He served on or headed several government railroad commissions in World War I and appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1932 due to his part in negotiating wage cuts in the...
) to Chicago. Operations began on November 23, 1874 under lease to the B&O, which initially obtained trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
(IC) north of the new line's terminus in Brookdale, Chicago. On December 27, 1876, the Ohio and Indiana companies were consolidated to form the Baltimore and Ohio and Chicago Railroad, and simultaneously the Illinois company was renamed to match.
On August 1, 1891, the Akron and Chicago Junction Railroad was opened, under lease to the B&O&C, which subleased it to the B&O. This extended the line east from Chicago Junction to Akron, where it met newly-acquired B&O subsidiary Pittsburgh and Western Railway, forming a through line between Chicago and Pittsburgh and thence to Baltimore via the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad and B&O proper. The Baltimore and Ohio Connecting Railroad was completed on October 8, 1892, improving the B&O's Chicago terminal arrangements in conjunction with trackage rights over the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway from South Chicago to Brainerd, where the B&O Connecting began, and the Chicago and Northern Pacific Railroad from the B&O Connecting's other end into downtown Chicago. The B&O&C was subsequently disconnected from the IC, though a connection remained at the crossing of the IC's South Chicago Railroad. The B&O&C of Illinois was absorbed by the B&O&C of Ohio and Indiana at some time, and in 1949 the B&O acquired the properties of the B&O&C.
The line between Brookdale and a point southeast of the Calumet River
Calumet River
The Calumet River refers to a system of heavily industrialized rivers and canals in the region between the neighborhood of South Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, and the city of Gary, Indiana.-Background:...
in South Chicago has since been abandoned, and operation near the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal
Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal
The Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal is an artificial waterway on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, in East Chicago, Indiana which connects the Grand Calumet River to Lake Michigan. It consists of two branch canals, the 1.25 mile Lake George Branch and the 2 mile long Grand Calumet River Branch...
is via trackage rights over the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Chicago Line
Chicago Line
The following rail lines are known as the Chicago Line:*Conrail's Chicago Line, Chicago to Albany, now the following Norfolk Southern and CSX lines:**Chicago Line , Chicago to Cleveland**Cleveland Terminal Subdivision , Cleveland...
, but the line east of Pine Junction in Gary remains a main line of B&O successor CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, which calls the old B&O&C the Willard Subdivision
Willard Subdivision
The Willard Subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of Ohio. The line runs from Willard west to Deshler along a former Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road line. At its east end, at Daniels Road west of Willard, the line becomes the Willard Terminal...
(Willard-Deshler), Garrett Subdivision
Garrett Subdivision
The Garrett Subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation in the U.S. states of Ohio and Indiana. The line runs from Deshler, Ohio, west to Willow Creek, Indiana , along a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line. At its east end, just east of Deshler, the Garrett...
(Deshler-Willow Creek), Barr Subdivision
Barr Subdivision
The Barr Subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation in the U.S. states of Indiana and Illinois. The line runs from Willow Creek , west to Blue Island, Illinois, along a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line...
(Willow Creek-Pine Junction), and Lake Subdivision (Pine Junction-South Chicago).
See also
- List of defunct Illinois railroads
- List of defunct Indiana railroads
- List of defunct Ohio railroads