Historic Railroads of Will County
Proposed Railroads
As the railroad building boom started to take place in the mid-to-late 1800s, in addition to the lines that were built, there were numerous lines proposed, financed, and even partially built before they failed. Some were nothing more than hoaxes to deceive investors. Others were well intentioned, but never attracted the financial, political, and business support they needed. Still others were taken out by existing railroads not wanting the competition.
Although many of these lines have been lost to history, a few clues remain -- historic maps, documents, even small remnants of infrastructure -- that remind of us what might have been.
Although many of these lines have been lost to history, a few clues remain -- historic maps, documents, even small remnants of infrastructure -- that remind of us what might have been.
Illinois Grand Trunk
The Illinois Grand Trunk was incorporated in 1859 to consolidate the Camanche, Albany & Mendota Rail Road and The Joliet and Terre Haute Railroad to build a line from the Mississippi River to Joliet. The CA&M was incorporated in 1856 and acquired right of way from Mendota to Albany. The J&TH was incorporated in 1852 and acquired right of way from Mendota east toward Joliet. After it went bankrupt, a second Illinois Grand Trunk was incorporated in 1867 and completed and opened the line from Mendota to Prophetstown. In 1870, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy leased the IGT and later extended the line from Prophetstown to East Clinton and Fulton.
The line from Mendota to Joliet was never built, and Burlington Northern pulled up the western half of the route in 1985. Some remnants of the former Burlington branch line still exists, like the former CB&Q depot and waycar in La Moille.
For an idea of the intended route, download this 1862 map and zoom into Mendota, where the Illinois Central charter line crosses the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy:
For an idea of the intended route, download this 1862 map and zoom into Mendota, where the Illinois Central charter line crosses the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy:
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Decatur and State LineChartered in 1869, the Decatur and State Line was Railway Company was going to build a line from Decatur north, coming through the center of Will County and connecting with the Chicago and Rock Island in Mokena. Bridge piers were even constructed in the Kankakee River that still exist today. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 apparently disrupted the financing for building this line.
A few years later, a Wabash subsidiary built a line just a few miles to the west of where the Decatur & State Line had laid its route, connecting Decatur to Chicago. 
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1871 map showing the proposed (dashed lines) Decatur & State Line route (Library of Congress - http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3701p.rr005360 )
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Chicago, Joliet & St. Louis Electric Railway
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From the January 1, 1910 issue of Electric Traction Weekly:
"The organization of the Chicago, Joliet & St. Louis Electric Railway Company gives promise of the completion of a chain of lines connecting St. Louis and Chicago. The officers of the company are H. A. Fisher, of Joliet, 111., president; S. A. Spry, of Chicago, vice-president; John M. Raymond, of Aurora, vice-president; Lee D. Fisher, of Joliet, treasurer and chief engineer; John K. Newhall, of Aurora, secretary, and F. E. Fisher, of Joliet, general manager. Arrangements have been made with the Metropolitan Elevated Railway Company for entrance into Chicago, with terminal station at Fifth avenue and Jackson boulevard." "Plans have been made to build in the spring a double-track, high—speed line from Joliet to a connection with the Metropolitan Elevated, thus giving rapid service to the down—town district of Chicago. South of Joliet there is a stretchas far as Dwight which will have to be built, but from Dwight to Pontiac, 20 miles, the Bloomington, Pontiac 8: Joliet Electric Railway Company operates. This company, which is controlled by the Chicago, Joliet & St. Louis Electric Railway Company. is now extending south to Bloomington, this extension having been practically completed to Chenoa, about 10 miles south of Pontiac." "This line when completed will run from Joliet to Bloomington, with branches to South Wilmington and Coal City, making in all 100 miles of main line. This line will form the connecting link between Chicago and St. Louis, by connecting with the Illinois Traction System at Bloomington. The Joliet & Southern Traction Company is also included in the new system. This company has been operating between Joliet and Aurora (as the Joliet, Plainfield & Aurora Railroad Company) for the past five years. It operates a city line in Joliet and recently completed and placed in operation 25 miles of new line between Joliet and Chicago Heights, and proposes to build an extension of 14 miles from Chicago wt: to Hammond, Ind., thereby completing the Electric Belt for the great manufacturing zone of Chicago." |
Great Lakes Basin Railroad
The Great Lakes Basin Railroad was a 21st-century proposed railroad, highway, and airport in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Each project was intended to be a multimodal solution to serve national freight traffic passing thru the Chicago metro area. The intended route bypasses Chicago to avoid its rail congestion, running from Janesville, Wisconsin, to Michigan City, Indiana. The project's estimated cost was $8 billion, privately financed.
On May 1, 2017, the Great Lake Basin Railroad filed its construction application with the Surface Transportation Board. On August 30, 2017, the Surface Transportation Board unanimously rejected GLB's application.
On May 1, 2017, the Great Lake Basin Railroad filed its construction application with the Surface Transportation Board. On August 30, 2017, the Surface Transportation Board unanimously rejected GLB's application.