Cincinnati and Richmond Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Cincinnati, Richmond and Chicago Railroad, Richmond and Miami Railway |
| Founded | 1881-12-22 |
| Fate | Consolidated into Cincinnati and Richmond Railroad in 1890 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Indiana, Ohio |
The Cincinnati and Richmond Railroad formed a component of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway network.
History
On January 19, 1846, the Richmond and Miami Railroad was chartered in Indiana with the purpose of constructing a line from Richmond southeastward to the border of Ohio. Subsequently, the Eaton and Hamilton Railroad received its charter in Ohio on February 8, 1847, aiming to continue the route southeast to Eaton and further south to Hamilton. The E&H commenced service from the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad north of Hamilton—utilizing trackage rights into Hamilton itself—to Eaton on July 1, 1852. The remainder of both the E&H and R&M lines opened on May 1, 1853, crossing into Ohio at Neels, Ohio. With the inauguration in December 1853 of the Cincinnati, Logansport and Chicago Railway stretching northwest from Richmond to New Castle, Indiana, these three railroads began coordinated operations. On February 1, 1854, the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad joined this collaboration by providing a southern connection to Cincinnati. The Richmond and Miami was absorbed by the Eaton and Hamilton on December 1, 1854. This joint operational arrangement concluded on December 1, 1856.
The Indiana segment underwent foreclosure sale on January 25, 1862, and was reorganized as the Richmond and Miami Railway on April 30. Beginning October 1 of that year, the E&H operated the R&M. A branch line extending eastward from near Richmond to New Paris at the Ohio border opened on May 1, 1863. This branch was leased by the Dayton and Western Railroad on March 11, which also acquired trackage rights to reach Richmond by extending westward from New Paris. The following day saw the Columbus and Xenia Railroad lease the D&W.
Operations of the R&M reverted to the E&H on November 1, 1864 under a lease dated November 26. After being sold on March 17, 1866, E&H reorganized as the Cincinnati, Richmond and Chicago Railroad on April 30; this entity came under control of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, which continued operating the R&M. The CH&D formally leased the CR&C outright on February 18, 1869. Subsequently, on March 31 of that year, the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, part of the Erie Railway system, leased the CH&D along with its subsidiary CR&C.
The Cincinnati and Richmond Railroad was established on December 22, 1881 with the intent to independently extend southward from Hamilton. This new line commenced operations in 1888, running southeast to connect with the Little Miami Railroad at Rendcomb Junction, located east of Cincinnati. On April 1, 1890, both CR&C and R&M consolidated into the C&R.
Currently, much of this corridor is incorporated into Norfolk Southern Railway's New Castle District, while its southernmost section is part of the Indiana and Ohio Railway's Oasis Subdivision.