Eastern Illinois Railroad
NOTE: This page exists only as an archive for the EIRC (which was taken over by Watco in January 2020).
Eastern Illinois Railroad History
The Eastern Illinois Railroad Company (EIRC) operates a former Nickel Plate line between Neoga and Metcalf, IL, a distance of 53 miles. Connections are made with the CN at Neoga and the DREI at Metcalf. The line was sold by Norfolk Southern in 1988 to NRG, Inc. which contracted with Indiana Hi-Rail to operate the line from May 1988 until March 1991. EIRC then took over operations in April 1991. Traffic is primarily grain, lumber and plastic. The railroad was owned by ADM until 2020.
The line dates to the early 1880's when is was built as the narrow gauge Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad. It later was named the Toledo, St. Louis & Western (aka the Clover Leaf), which became part of the Nickel Plate in 1923. Nickel Plate was latter merged into the Norfolk & Western, which merged with the Southern Railroad to become Norfolk Southern.
Watco announced in early November 2019 that the Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad had acquired the Eastern Illinois Railroad from ADM. Operations began on January 01, 2020. The EIRC's GP9 (#1040) and GP10 (#7565) were retained by ADM and will be used as elevator switchers. EIRC GP9R #4541 was scrapped in June 2019.
Eastern Illinois Railroad Locomotives
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Eastern Illinois Railroad Customers
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