The Railroads of Will CountyMichigan CentralThe 45-mile Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad was constructed in 1854 and 1855 to connect Joliet with Lake Station, Indiana where a connection was made with the Michigan Central Railroad. (Before the railroad’s construction, the right-of-way had been secured in 1854 to build a horse and wagon road using wooden planks, but the proposed plank road was never built.) On May 7th, 1855, the line was duly opened with an excursion train from Joliet to Lake Station. The schedule, which went into effect in July 1855, showed the importance of the new line as a connecting link. Two trains were run each way daily to connect at the east end with trains from Detroit and Cincinnati and at the west end with trains from the south on the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad and from the west on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad.
The Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad was leased as soon as it was opened to the Michigan Central Railroad, and became the Joliet Division of that railroad. The Joliet Cutoff, as it was commonly known, became an important part of the Michigan Central, as it provided interchange with connecting railroads at Joliet while avoiding the congestions and delays associated with routing freight traffic through Chicago. |
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The one advantage, which Joliet possessed over other Will County communities, was the direct connection with the east over the tracks of the Michigan Central Railroad. This service saved a day or more in time in the exportation of local projects and the importation of merchandise by bypassing delays in Chicago railroad yards. It also gave Joliet shippers the same rates to the Atlantic seaboard that Chicago merchants paid, and enabled local dealers to pay approximately Chicago prices for country produce. Farmers came from adjoining counties, especially Kane and Kendall on the west, as far as forty miles away, past other market towns, to take advantage of those higher prices.
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The Michigan Central Railroad come under the control of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad in 1890, but the Michigan Central continued to operate as a separate railroad.
The Michigan Central tracks in Joliet were elevated in 1908-1910. The Michigan Central did not participate in the 1911-1912 construction of Joliet Union Station, but became a tenant there, from 1912 when it opened until 1925 when it discontinued passenger train service to and from Joliet. The Michigan Central passenger trains arrived and departed from the south (Rock Island) side of Joliet Union Station. These trains used the Rock Island’s tracks to reach Joliet Union Station from the Michigan Central’s Joliet Yard. |
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In 1914, the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad consolidated with three other railroads to become the New York Central Railroad. The Michigan Central continued to operate as a separate railroad. In 1930, the New York Central leased the Michigan Central and began operating it as part of the New York Central System. The lease of the Joliet & Northern Indiana was transferred from the Michigan Central to the New York Central at that time. American railroads began a slow decline in the 1950’s and the New York Central was no exception. The Joliet Cutoff was allowed to deteriorate as maintenance of the track was deferred. What used to be 40 mile-an-hour track was no longer safe for more than 10 miles an hour.
Eastbound Penn Central freight on Joliet Cutoff (John Riha photo)
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The New York Central Railroad merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad on February 1st, 1968, forming the ill-fated Penn Central Transportation Company, which filed for bankruptcy on June 21st, 1970. Business continued to decline on the Joliet Cutoff, and Penn Central embargoed service between Chicago Heights and Joliet by the end of 1972, with all freight service to and from Joliet discontinued at that time.
The railroad operations of the Penn Central were taken over by the newly formed Conrail on February 1st, 1976, along with other bankrupt railroads in the northeast. The right-of-way of the Joliet Cutoff between Chicago Heights and Joliet was retained by the Penn Central Corporation, and was never owned or operated by Conrail. |
Metra has acquired the site of the former Michigan Central Joliet Yard for use as their Joliet commuter train storage yard.
Between 1992 and 2006, the Forest Preserve District of Will County acquired the former right-of-way of the Joliet Cutoff within Will County and has redeveloped it as the Old Plank Road Trail, a recreational trail used for biking and hiking. While trains will never again operate on this route, it is once again of service to the citizens of Joliet.
Between 1992 and 2006, the Forest Preserve District of Will County acquired the former right-of-way of the Joliet Cutoff within Will County and has redeveloped it as the Old Plank Road Trail, a recreational trail used for biking and hiking. While trains will never again operate on this route, it is once again of service to the citizens of Joliet.