The C&WI uses BNSF's Eola Yard as the base of its operations and also to hand cars over to the BNSF. All trains originate in Eola and also terminate in Eola. Occasionally BNSF will detour a train over the C&WI between Eola and Streator but that is rare as the ability for the lines to handle multiple trains in many areas isn't good.
The C&WI has four lines in northwest Illinois. The La Salle branch runs from La Salle, IL and runs to Zearing where there is an interchange with the BNSF. Since there is no connection with the CSXT in La Salle, trains must access the line through the BNSF at Zearing. Customers on this line include:
ABT Plastics - La Salle
ADM - La Salle
Techni Sand - Dalzell
Goldman Processing - La Salle
Unytite - La Salle
U.S. Silica- La Salle
The C&WI also offers car storage in Ladd with the capacity for up to 25 cars.
There is a small yard near Zearing so crews can run their power around the train and head down the La Salle branch. The symbol for this train is L-ZELS and its crew is on duty at 13:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Its BNSF symbol is F-EOLZEA-1-##*
*Date of origin
The Mt. Morris Branch runs from Oregon, where the line splits from the BNSF almost 40 miles from Eola, to Mt. Morris where the line ends. There is a small C&WI yard in Oregon where cars can be sorted before the L-FCRV departs. The L-FCRV usually departs Eola at 04:00 and only goes to Mt. Morris on Saturdays and Wednesdays. The BNSF symbol is F-EOLORE-1-##. Online customers include:
Quad Graphics - Mt. Morris
Mt. Morris Co-op - Mt. Morris
The Rockford Branch splits from the BNSF at Flagg Center and runs north to Rockford where the C&WI interchanges with the UP, CN, and CP. There is also an interchange with CP in Davis Junction where the two lines cross. The L-FCRV also handles traffic on the Mt. Morris Branch but only on the days specified above. The L-FCRV runs to Rockford 5 days a week and is on duty at Eola at 04:00. This line is actually signalled and is controlled by a G&W dispatcher. There are no intermediate signals but signals guard the diamond in Davis Junction and the wyes in Flagg Center and Rockford. Once in Rockford the L-FCRV runs west into the CN yard to swap cars before returning to Eola. Online customers include:
Watco Reload - Rockford
Kent Feeds - Rockford
Bergstrom Climate Control Systems - Rockford
Ring Container Technologies - Rockford
Gunite Corp. - Rockford
The Streator Branch runs from Montgomery to Streator where it connects to NS. There is a connection to the CSXT in Ottawa north of Streator and only a few miles east of La Salle. This is the longest of the 4 branches as it runs about 40 miles. The line is serviced by the L-MYST which comes on duty in Eola at 11:00 on weekdays and runs as F-EOLMGY-1-## on BNSF. Online customers include:
Yorkville Feed - Yorkville
James Hardy - Serena
Fairmount Minerals - Wedron
Unimin Corp. - Ottawa
Ottawa Mineral - Ottawa
84 Lumber - Streator
Though the C&WI doesn't have a large amount of customers, the customers that they have receive large amounts of cars such as Ottawa Mineral which receives between 25-35 cars at a time.
The C&WI roster is as follows:
C&WI 783, 5668, 4020, 4022-4024, 4031, 4038 - SD40-2
C&WI 4029-4030 - SD40T-2
C&WI 4235 - B23-7
C&WI 4025 - GP40-3
C&WI 4021 - GP38-3
Symbols(once on C&WI):
L-ZELS Zearing - La Salle Turn
L-FCRV Flagg Center - Rockford Turn*
L-MYST Montgomery - Streator Turn
*L-FCRV works Mt. Morris on Wednesdays and Saturdays
C&WI 4020 - SD40-2
C&WI 5668 - SD40-2
CWI 783 - SD40-2
CWI 4038 - SD40-2
CWI 4023 - SD40-2
CWI 4029 - SD40T-2
CWI 4031 - SD40-2
