Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad
| Company type | Railroad company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Fate | Merged into Big Four Railroad in 1892 |
| Headquarters | Sandusky , United States |
| Products | Rail transport services |
The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad holds the distinction of being Ohio's second railroad to be constructed and operated, following the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad established in Toledo in 1836. Additionally, it was the inaugural railroad company to receive a charter west of the Allegheny Mountains.
History
Groundbreaking for the railroad took place in Sandusky, Ohio, on September 17, 1835, at the location now known as Battery Park Marina.
On November 17, 1837, the MR&LE acquired its first steam locomotive named Sandusky, which was manufactured by Rogers, Ketchum and Grosvenor in Paterson, New Jersey. This locomotive marked Rogers’ initial production and introduced features such as cast iron driving wheels along with counterweights. Thomas Hogg managed its delivery from New Jersey and subsequently served as the railroad’s chief mechanical engineer.
The MR&LE operated using the "Ohio gauge" track width. At the time of Sandusky's arrival, no rails had been installed; instead, the locomotive was utilized to assist with construction efforts. Passenger operations commenced on April 11, 1838, connecting Sandusky to Bellevue.
By 1841, construction had extended to Tiffin, reaching Kenton in 1846, and Springfield by 1849. Ownership of the railroad shifted several times before it ultimately became part of the Big Four Railroad (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad) in 1892. This entity later merged into the New York Central Railroad. The majority of the original MR&LE routes were abandoned by Penn Central around the time Conrail was formed in 1976. Nevertheless, a section running between Bellefontaine and Springfield continues to operate under RailAmerica’s Indiana and Ohio Central Railroad.
Although most tracks within downtown Sandusky originally belonging to MR&LE have been removed, a segment of the original right-of-way remains in use by Norfolk Southern coal docks located west of downtown.