BLACKHAWK RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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The Railroads of Will County

Wabash

Picture
Restored 1881 Wabash depot from Symerton, Illinois now on display at the Will County Heritage Village in Lockport, Illinois
The Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific was constructed across Custer, Wesley, Florence, Wilton, Manhattan, New Lenox and Homer Townships in 1880 as part of a through route between Decatur and Chicago.  Stations were established on this line at the Will County communities of Marley, Steele, Manhattan, Symerton, Ballou, Ritchie and Custer Park.  The Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific was reorganized as the Wabash Railroad in 1889.

The Wabash was merged into the Norfolk & Western Railroad in 1964.  Intercity passenger train service on this route was discontinued in 1971.  The Norfolk & Western was merged with the Southern Railway in 1982 to form the Norfolk Southern Railroad.  Norfolk Southern abandoned this line from Manhattan down to Gibson City in 1991.

In 2006, Metra extended its SouthWest Service from 179th Street n Orland Park to Manhattan, building new commuter stations at Laraway Road in New Lenox and at Sweedler Road in Manhattan.

The Forest Preserve of Will County now owns the former Wabash right-of-way south of Manhattan and has redeveloped it as the southern half (combined with a stretch of the former Milwaukee Road between Joliet and Manhattan) of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail.
Picture
Picture
Interlocking tower at crossing of MILW and WAB at Manhattan, Illinois
< The Milwaukee Road
Shortlines and Industrials >
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
  • 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
  • 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
    • Regional Museums & Heritage Railroads
    • Model and Garden Railroading
    • Operating Steam Locomotives
    • Today's Railroads >
      • Regional, Short Line and Industrial Railroads
    • Santa Trains
  • Store