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Chicago
& Eastern Illinois (C&EI) Expansion of the Missouri Pacific system continued in a big way in 1967 with the addition of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. The aquistion of the C&EI gave Mopac direct access to Chicago from theWest and Southwest. The C&EI also provided a direct line between the major Chicago and St. Louis terminals. As part of the purchase agreement, the C&EI itself was divided between the Missouri Pacific and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. C&EI's Evansville line was sold to the L&N, though C&EI reatained joint ownership and shared use of the Chicago to Woodland Jct. line. Other assets such as locomotives were also split between the MP and L&N. Units that were no sooner being renumbered for the MoPac roster found themselves going to the L&N system. The MoPac beagan a rebuilding program on the C&EI almost as soon as it took control of the road in 1967. New shops, yard and terminal expansions, upgrading to heavier weld-rail, CTC installation, bridge rebuilding, and purchases for both new motive power and freight cars. Rebuilding of the systems routes took seven years. The C&EI, along with the Texas & Pacifc, were formally merged into the MoPac railroad on October 15, 1976. This merger completed MoPac's major goals of assembling all of its component railroads into one 12,000-mile rail system (source-MPL Freight Train Services & Equipment, P. Dorin)
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Chicago
Heights Terminal Transfer (CHTT) The Chicago Heights Terminal Transfer has been and remains today as the switching road in south suburban Chicago Heights. C&EI and the Kilgallen family were the owners. and it's believed that the family still holds an interest in the comapny, which is why the name still exists. The "Terminal" was an interesting operation that from overhead looked just like a giant model railroad. It made a complete oval. You could actually start from point A and head west and return to point A coming back in from the east. I worked on it quite a bit. There were and still are numerous industries along the line including the still very active Ford Motor Company Chicago Heights Stamping Plant. There was a two stall roundhouse that was active and in use until the early 80's. A fuel track was also located there and a Machinist was stationed there five afternoons per week until 1981 when the job was abolished and he transferred to Yard Center Diesel. The CHTT which was also referred to as the "Hack Line." (thanks to 'Tuch' Santucci) |
Last Updated: May 6, 2005
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