BLACKHAWK RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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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.
Picture
​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

  • Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
  • Chicago & Alton /
       Chicago & Illinois River Railroad
  • Chicago & Eastern Illinois
  • Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
  • Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
  • Illinois Central
  • Michigan Central
  • The Milwaukee Road
    (Chicago, Milwaukee & Gary/
       Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern)
  • Wabash
Picture
Interlocking tower at crossing of MILW and WAB at Manhattan, Illinois

Shortlines and Industrial Railroads

  • Joliet Army Ammunition Plant
  • Joliet Junction Railroad
Picture

Proposed Railroads

  • Illinois Grand Trunk
  • Decatur & State Line
  • ​Great Lakes Basin
Picture

Interurban Railroads and Streetcar Systems

  • Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway Co.  
  • Chicago & Southern Traction Co./
      
    Chicago & Interurban Traction Co. 
  • Chicago, Ottawa & Peoria Ry./
      Illinois Traction System - Illinois Valley Division/
      ​Chicago & Illinois Valley Ry. 
     
  • Joliet, Plainfield & Aurora Ry./
      Aurora, Plainfield & Joliet Ry.
       
  • Joliet & Southern Traction Co./
      Joliet & Eastern Traction Co.
    ​
Picture

​Contents © 2023 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
  • About Us
    • Join Us
    • Newsletter
    • Meetings
    • 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
  • Schedule
  • 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
    • Museums and Heritage RRs/Operating Steam Locomotives
    • Today's Railroads >
      • Regional, Short Line and Industrial Railroads
    • Santa Trains
  • Store