Chicago and Nashville Railroad

Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad

Company type	Railroad
Industry	Transportation
Predecessor	Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad; Evansville, Terre Haute and Chicago Railroad; Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad
Founded	1877
Defunct	1976
Fate	Merged into Missouri Pacific Railroad
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Area served	Illinois, Indiana, Missouri
Products	Rail transport services (passenger and freight)
Number of employees	Approximately 1,200 (at Danville repair shops, early 20th century)
Parent	Missouri Pacific Railroad (from 1967)

The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago with southern parts of Illinois, as well as St. Louis and Evansville. Established in 1877, the railroad steadily grew through acquisitions and new track development. It demonstrated durability throughout the Great Depression and both World Wars before being taken over by the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac) and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N). The C&EI was merged into MoPac in 1976, which itself was eventually incorporated into the Union Pacific Railroad.

History

The railroad was formed in 1877 by consolidating three lines: the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad, Evansville, Terre Haute and Chicago Railroad, and Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad. Its initial goal was to unify rail service between Chicago’s southern outskirts and Terre Haute, Indiana, later extending to a crossing at the Mississippi River near Thebes, Illinois.

Connections with the Chicago and Indiana Coal Railway (C&IC) resulted in a merger finalized by 1894. By the early twentieth century, C&EI managed approximately 737 miles of mainline track, operated a roster of 159 locomotives alongside more than 11,000 freight cars, and employed roughly 1,200 workers at its Danville repair shops—critical infrastructure for its regional network.

In 1902, control passed to the Frisco, which broadened service to include Evansville. However, after Frisco’s financial failure in 1913, C&EI regained independence by 1920. During this era, the railroad sold off certain lines and filed for bankruptcy in 1933, reemerging by 1940. Service was extended to St. Louis in 1954.

Starting in 1961, Missouri Pacific acquired shares in C&EI and secured majority control by 1967 following regulatory approval. A stipulation of the merger required divesting the Evansville route to Louisville and Nashville in 1969. The section south of Chicago near Danville became jointly owned by successors of MoPac and L&N (Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation). C&EI operated as a subsidiary until its full integration into MoPac in 1976; routes toward St. Louis were absorbed into MoPac/UP systems while others transferred to L&N/CSX.

C&EI’s primary passenger terminal in Chicago was Dearborn Station; under Frisco ownership it used LaSalle Street Station. The railroad ran several streamliner trains including its proprietary Meadowlark (Chicago–Cypress) and Whippoorwill (Chicago–Evansville), alongside operating segments of L&N’s Humming Bird and Georgian. It also took part in the Chicago–Florida "Dixie Route" passenger services featuring trains like the Dixie Flyer and Dixie Flagler, carrying passengers from Chicago to Evansville before handing off service to southeastern railroads.

Passenger service on the Chicago–Evansville line ended in 1968, discontinuing named trains such as the Georgian; only the Danville-Chicago Flyer continued until further reductions followed.

At its operational height in 1925, C&EI controlled roughly 945 miles of road with nearly 2,000 miles of track. By 1967, it reported revenue freight exceeding three billion ton-miles while still maintaining notable passenger operations until late-stage cutbacks preceded its full absorption into larger rail networks.

External links

• Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society (features information on predecessor lines)
• Overview of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad's history
• System map of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
• 1953 timetable for the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
• Records of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company held at the Newberry Library