CB&Q's Chicago & Iowa Railroad

It seems different maps have different mistakes. But, if you look at enough maps, you can become confident of the railroad's route.

This map provides an overview of where the railroad was from the perspective of Oregon, IL. But the east end is wrong because the route went through Rochelle. In fact, the segment of the C&I between Oregon and Rochelle was chartered in 1857 as Ogle & Carroll County Railroad and reached Oregon in 1871. This gave Oregon access to the railroad network with a connection to the C&NW in Rochelle. James Frederick Joy included this segment in the Burlington & Michigan Central that ran from Aurora (CB&Q connection) to Forreston (IC connection) in 1872. By 1874, Francis Hinkley had built the Chicago, Rockford & Northern 24 miles from Flagg Center to Rockford. Both of these segments became consolidated as the Chicago & Iowa Railroad. In 1885, the Chicago Burlington & Northern was chartered and its construction from Oregon to St. Paul, MN was completed in 1886. Oregon itself was a destination because it promoted itself as a resort town. [OregonDepot]

OregonDepot

This 1874 map correctly shows the C&I route going through Rochelle, but it also shows the line extended west from Forreston to Bellevue, IA. I have determined that line is a mistake. There is a "CH & IA" label along the route between Oregon and Rochelle. But it also shows the "CH&RRR" (as best as I can read it) shared the route between Shabbona and Aurora. I included the routes all the way down to Galesburg to show the original CB&Q line. Note the lines through Shabbona and the Illinois Grand Trunk Railway west of Mendota have yet to be acquired by CB&Q.

LoC: 1874

This map confirms the Shabbona-Aurora segment was built by the C&I/Burlington & Michigan Central.

LoC: 1872 Milwaukee

Rochelle simplifies the corporate history and confirms the Chicago & Iowa Railroad was built through Rochelle in 1870.

The reason for the branch up to Rockford is interesting. Rockford enjoyed an early railroad connection because the Galena & Chicago Union arrived in 1852. But in just four years Rockford's businessmen thought the rates were too high and worked to break G&CU's railroad monopoly. In 1857 they received a charter for the Kenosha & Rockford Railroad. In spite of an economic depression, the railroad entered town in 1859. But Chicago & North Western absorbed both railroads serving Rockford. In 1874, F. E. Hinkley, the president of the C&I, proposed a branch from Rochelle to Rockford to break the C&NW monopoly. [Rockford]


The segment from Oregon to Aurora is now part of BNSF's mainline to St. Paul and the Northwest Pacific. The branch to Rockford is now part of the Illinois Railway. My 2005 SPV Map shows the segment between Mt. Morris and Forreston has been abandoned. There are still tracks between Oregon and Mt. Morris, but a pile of dirt next to the parking lot on the industrial spur does not bode well for rail service. The grain elevator does not have rail service. So it appears the segment west of Oregon is no longer used.