Eastern Illinois Railroad

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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

Number Model Built History Notes
ILSX 180 GP38AC 1971 Ex-HATX 180/CSX 2166/SBD 6257/SBD 4036/LN 4036. Briefly went to DREI. Now on WGNS.
EIRC 1040 GP9 1958 Ex-CIC 104/CNW 4539/CNW 707/MSTL 707. Went to ADM Decatur, IL.
HLCX 3834 GP38-2 1979 Ex-NS 5384/CR 8259. Briefly went to DREI. Now on WSOR.
EIRC 4541 GP9R 1959 Ex-CNW 4541/CNW 1763. Scrapped June 2019.
FURX 5571 GP38-2 1969 Ex-NS 5571/NS 2750/SOU 2750. Briefly leased by EIRC in 2016. Now FGAR 5571.
EIRC 7565 GP10 1957 Ex-CR 7565/PC 7111. Went to ADM Decatur, IL.

Eastern Illinois Railroad Customers

Customer Location Company Description Type of Railcar Notes
Total Grain Marketing Neoga, IL Grain Elevator Covered Hoppers
Kirchner Building Centers Charleston, IL Lumber Yard Centerbeam Flatcars
Total Grain Marketing Charleston, IL Grain Elevator Covered Hoppers
ITW HI-Cone Charleston, IL Plastic Packaging Manufacturer Covered Hoppers
Ox Engineered Products Charleston, IL Insulated Sheathing Manufacturer Tank Cars/Boxcars Formerly DOW.
ADM Oakland Oakland, IL Grain Elevator Covered Hoppers



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