BLACKHAWK RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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​Terminal, Regional, Short Line,
​and Industrial Railroads

Even in today's highly efficient and consolidated railroad industry, our region is still the home to an incredible variety of railroads and railroad operations in the country.  Here is a comprehensive (but by no means complete) list of terminal, regional, short line and industrial freight railroads in the area.  This list may or may not include some corporations (sometimes called "paper railroads") that do not have an individual identity or operate their own equipment.  ​Last updated July 2020.

​Many of the common carriers are represented by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Asspciation. 

​Have a link you would like to share?  Have you found a broken link?  Please send us an E-mail
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​Illinois

  • A&R Terminal Railroad
  • AgRail LLC
  • Alton & Southern
  • Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal  
  • Belt Railway of Chicago
  • Bloomer Line
  • Burlington Junction
  • Buzzi Unicem (Oglesby, IL)
  • Centerpoint Transportation, LLC (Joliet Terminal Railroad)
  • CGB Shortline Railroad
  • Chicago Junction Railroad 
    Not to be confused with an earlier railroad that became a New York Central subsidiary
  • Chicago Port Railroad 
  • Chicago Rail Link
  • Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad
  • Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad
  • Chicago, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
  • Chicago-Chemung Railroad
  • Cicero Central Railroad
  • Coffeen & Western Railroad
  • Crab Orchard & Egyptian
  • Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad
  • Decatur Central Railroad
  • Decatur Junction Railway
  • Effingham Railroad
  • Elwood, Joliet & Southern ​
  • Evansville Western Railway
  • Fisher Farmers Grain & Coal
  • Great Lakes Terminal Railroad
  • Herrin Railroad
  • Hoffman Transportation
  • Illinois & Midland Railroad
  • Illinois Terminal Belt
  • illinois Railway
  • Illinois Western
  • Indiana Harbor Belt
  • Indiana Rail Road
  • Ingredion (formerly Corn Products Argo plant)
  • Iowa Interstate Railroad
  • Joppa & Eastern Railroad
  • Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad​
  • Kaskaskia Port District   
  • Keokuk Junction Railway Company
  • Manufacturers' Junction Railway
  • Mokena Illinois Raliroad
  • Peru Industrial Railroad
  • Pioneer Industrial Railway
  • Port Harbor Railroad
  • R Bult Rail Lines
  • Riverport Railroad
  • Sanitary District of Chicago Railroad
  • South Chicago & Indiana Harbor 
    Formerly the Chicago Short Line
  • Tazewell & Peoria Railroad
  • Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
  • The Prairie Line
  • Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway
  • Trans Distribution Brookfield Railroad 
  • Vandalia Railroad
    Not to be confused the with an earlier railroad that became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
  • Vermilion Valley Railroad
  • Will County Coal Handling Railroad
  • Wisconsin & Southern Railroad​​

Indiana

  • Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal  
  • Central Indiana and Western Railroad 
  • Central Railroad of Indianapolis
  • Central Railroad of Indiana
  • Chesapeake & Indiana​
  • Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad
  • ​Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad​
  • Connersville & New Castle Railroad 
  • Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad
  • Dubois County Railroad
  • East Chicago Rail Terminal
  • Elkhart & Western Railway
  • Evansville Western Railway
  • Gary Railway
  • Grand Elk Railroad
  • Hoosier Southern Railroad
  • Indian Creek Railroad
  • Indiana & Ohio Railway
  • Indiana Eastern Railroad
  • Indiana Harbor Belt
  • Indiana Northeastern Railroad
  • Indiana Rail Road
  • Indiana Southern Railroad
  • Indiana Southwestern Railway
  • Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad
  • Kendallville Terminal Railway
  • Lake Michigan & Indiana Railroad
  • Louisville & Indiana Railroad
  • Lucas Oil Rail Lines
  • Madison Railroad
  • Napoleon, Defiance & Western
  • Ohio Valley Railroad
  • R. J. Corman Railroad Company  - Western Ohio Lines
  • South Chicago & Indiana Harbor
    ​(former Chicago Short Line)
  • Southern Indiana Railway
  • Southwind Shortline Railroad
  • Squaw Creek Southern
  • Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway
  • Vermilion Valley Railroad
  • Wabash Central Railroad​

Wisconsin

  • East Troy Electric Railroad
  • Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad
  • Tomahawk Railway
  • Wisconsin Northern Railroad
  • Wisconsin Rapids Railroad
  • Wisconsin & Southern Railroad

Contents © 2022 Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. - an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.  
The Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. is a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society  and  is not affiliated with the former Blackhawk Films or the ​Chicago franchise of the National Hockey League.  

Contact Us

  • Home
  • Schedule
  • About Us
    • Join Us
    • Newsletter
    • Meetings
    • Chicago Railroad History Month
    • Indiana Swap Meet and Program
    • 50th Anniversary Gallery
    • The Railroads of Will County >
      • Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
      • Chicago & Alton
      • Chicago & Eastern Illinois
      • Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
      • Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
      • Illinois Central
      • Michigan Central
      • The Milwaukee Road (CM&G/CTH&SE)
      • Wabash
      • Shortlines and Industrials
      • Proposed Railroads
      • Interurban Railroads
  • Projects
    • Chicago Railroad History Month
    • Depots >
      • Joliet >
        • History
        • Passenger
        • Railfan
        • UD Tower
      • Symerton
      • Lockport
    • Museums
    • Publications and Documents >
      • EJ&E Documents
    • Community
    • Equipment
  • Connections
    • Railroad History Partners
    • Local Railroad Attractions
    • Regional Museums & Heritage Railroads
    • Model and Garden Railroading
    • Operating Steam Locomotives
    • Today's Railroads >
      • Regional, Short Line and Industrial Railroads
    • Santa Trains
  • Store