The Railroads of Will County - A History
With our organization based in Will County, society president Bill Molony has done extensive research on the history of the railroads serving the county and their importance to Will County's economy and growth.
As one of the "collar" counties around Chicago, Will County had been historically rural in character, but today is a combination of farming and suburban communities, along with substantial modern industrial development. The first railroad into Will County was the Chicago and Rock Island in 1852, and throughout the 19th and early 20th-centuries, numerous rail lines stretched through Will County as they tried to tap into the railroad center of Chicago, or in some cases, tried to avoid the congestion of the Windy City.
As one of the "collar" counties around Chicago, Will County had been historically rural in character, but today is a combination of farming and suburban communities, along with substantial modern industrial development. The first railroad into Will County was the Chicago and Rock Island in 1852, and throughout the 19th and early 20th-centuries, numerous rail lines stretched through Will County as they tried to tap into the railroad center of Chicago, or in some cases, tried to avoid the congestion of the Windy City.
This 1928 railroad map of Illinois above shows the mainline railroads at their peak, when the interurbans were beginning to lose their battle to the automobile, and before the massive Joliet Arsenal was built.
Mainline Railroads |
Interlocking tower at crossing of MILW and WAB at Manhattan, Illinois
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Shortlines and Industrial Railroads |
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Proposed Railroads |
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