Lake Erie and Western Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary (former) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | President and Directors of the Peru and Indianapolis Railroad Company (1846), Lake Erie and Western Railway Company (1879) |
| Founded | February 10, 1887 in Illinois, United States |
| Fate | Sold to Nickel Plate Road in 1922 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Ohio, Indiana, Illinois |
Key people | Seney Syndicate (founders/mergers) |
| Parent | New York Central Railroad (1900–1922) |
The Lake Erie and Western Railroad served the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Its principal route extended westward from Sandusky, Ohio to Peoria, Illinois, traversing important urban centers such as Fremont, Ohio, Fostoria, Ohio, Muncie, Indiana, Lafayette, Indiana, and Bloomington, Illinois. Additional significant lines linked Indianapolis, Indiana with Michigan City, Indiana and connected Fort Wayne, Indiana to Connersville, Indiana. Key branch lines stretched from Saint Marys, Ohio to Minster, Ohio and from New Castle, Indiana to Rushville, Indiana.
Among the railroad’s notable historical landmarks is the Lake Erie and Western Depot Historic District located in Kokomo, Indiana, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Beginning and growth
Established in Illinois on February 10, 1887, the Lake Erie and Western Railroad—often referred to as the "Natural Gas Route"—was formed through the amalgamation of several railroads dating back to the mid-1800s. Its earliest predecessor was the President and Directors of the Peru and Indianapolis Railroad Company, incorporated in Indiana in 1846. The Seney Syndicate played a pivotal role by merging various short railroads across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois into the original Lake Erie and Western Railway Company in 1879. Over time, through a series of consolidations and foreclosure transactions, these lines developed into what became known as the Lake Erie and Western Railroad.
Control
The Lake Erie and Western held operational control over the Northern Ohio Railway through leases and maintained a 10% joint ownership interest in the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway.
In 1900, ownership transferred to the New York Central Railroad, which managed it as an independent subsidiary until its sale to the Nickel Plate in 1922.