The 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.
CB&Q passenger train stopping at La Moille, Illinois depot in 1920 in this Lee County Historical Society photo
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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: 
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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 of the proposed Plymouth, Kankakee & Pacific showing the proposed Decatur & State Line route (Library of Congress - http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3701p.rr005360 )
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