Calumet Central Illinois & St Louis Railway

Synopsis
The Calumet, Central Illinois & St Louis Railway was a railroad projected to connect the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with the Midwestern Metropolis of St Louis. The line came about after Midwest Buisnessmen became attracted by Ore Deposits in the North were big for railroads such as the Chicago and North Western and Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway. The Railroad was Chartered in 1871, and The quick sales of Bonds allowed for Fast Construction of the railroad's mainline, which reached Chicago in 1875 and Calumet MI in 1876. The Railroad was built with no roadbed, and was prone to frequent Derailments. Ro solve this, The CCI&StL, now known as the "Calumet Road" turned its sights towards the Narrow Gauge St Louis & North Western Railway, which had a termimus on the outskirts of the city. The Railroad itself was 38 miles long and had little traffic, but it served a gravel plant which was of great value to the CCI&StL. But before they could place a bid, the famous Edward Harriman scooped up the StL&NW and began to use it with his Railroads. Harriman did allow the "Calumet Road" to use the line as a ballast source, and when the Railroad finished rebuilding it's grade, 50% of the ballast had come from the StL&NW.

As quickly as the Calumet Road had appeared, it vanished: the Chicago & North Western Railway took notice of its success. Seeing the instant profits, the CNW had soon bought enough control of the Calumet Road to take over the company. The mainline from Chicago to Calumet was kept by the CNW for use as an iron ore line, but they sold the Chicago-St. Louis line to The Illinois Central. Small Portions of the Upper Peninsula line were later sold to the Milwaukee Road. And remain in service as the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railway.