Historical Chicago terminal railroads: Still going Strong

Dating back to the late 19th Century, these companies continue to keep rail traffic moving in and out of the city

Chicago has always had a plethora of terminal railroads. Many have come and gone, but a handful with historical roots dating to the late 19th Century are still active today, and vital to keeping the freight and passenger traffic consistently moving in and out of the city. These are Historical Chicago terminal railroads that are still going strong.

Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad

Blue-and-yellow diesel switchers in a yard — Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal SW9 No. 9602 and SW1 No. 8418 are seen at Barr Yard in Riverdale, Ill., in January 1974. Russell T. Sharp

Established on Jan. 6, 1910, by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, this 78-mile network primarily focused on freight traffic and interchange within Chicago. It also provided B&O passenger trains access to Grand Central Station, with trackage rights extended to railroads like the Soo Line, Pere Marquette Railways, and Chicago Great Western. The Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal and its infrastructure remain in operation today, serving CSX Transportation (B&O’s successor) in Pine Junction, Indiana.

Belt Railway Company of Chicago

Black-and-white photo of large rail yard — The Belt Railway of Chicago at Clearing, showing cars rolling down the westbound hump, in April 1948. Cars at the far left are rolling up the incline to be humped over the eastbound summit. Linn H. Westcott

The Belt Railway Company of Chicago was founded in 1882 by real estate promoter John B. Brown, who recognized the need for a comprehensive terminal network amid growing rail traffic. This terminal railroad became a crucial “belt line,” enhancing connectivity among major railroads, with the massive Clearing Yard as its operational heart. Today, the 28-mainline-mile railroad and its 786-acre yard continue their critical role, owned by North America’s Class I railroads.

Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad

Back-and-white photo of a switcher operating in rural area — An IHB out waits for the signal to go southbound thrugh State Line interlocking at Hammond, Ind., on April 5, 1980. J. David Ingles

Dating back to 1907, the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad was formed through mergers to create an effective interchange system in Chicago. Initially intended to alleviate congestion with a short belt line connecting diverse railroads, the IHB has grown into a major freight player. Its innovative approaches to switching rates and topology have contributed to its longevity and efficiency in the city’s rail operations

South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway (Formerly Chicago Short Line)

Maroon-and-gold switcher diesels — Chicago Short Line SW1001 No. 29 and SW1500 No. 30 are preparing to work the railroad’s yard near 95th Street on Chicago’s southside, on March 27, 1996. Howard Ande

Serving since 1900, the South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway, initially known as the Chicago Short Line, has maintained a strong industrial focus. It began by serving the steel industries along Lake Michigan and has expanded to support local industries. Its operations remain vital to the logistics and transport sectors in South Chicago and surrounding regions.

One thought on “Historical Chicago terminal railroads: Still going Strong”

These 4 were & are vital links, especially when getting coming/going to/from E or W coast on a timely basis. Chicago can be a REAL bottleneck! Speaking a DePage County resident “78-90 and former C&NW Safety Mgr plus a few months @ the Piggy Back yard.

GERALD EDGAR says:

October 24, 2025 at 4:04 pm

These 4 were & are vital links, especially when getting coming/going to/from E or W coast on a timely basis. Chicago can be a REAL bottleneck! Speaking a DePage County resident “78-90 and former C&NW Safety Mgr plus a few months @ the Piggy Back yard.

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