The Chicago & Iowa Railroad was the first link in the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Northern (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) between Aurora and St. Paul. The line ran west from Aurora to Shabbona, and then northwest to Rochelle, Oregon, Morris and Forreston, where a connection with the Illinois Central was made. The portion of the line from Oregon and Rochelle was chartered as the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad, reaching Oregon in 1871. The Chicago, Rockford & Northern was built from Flagg Center to Rockford in 1874. Both of these segments became consolidated as the Chicago & Iowa Railroad. In 1885, the Chicago Burlington & Northern was chartered and its construction from Oregon to St. Paul, MN was completed in 1886. [5]
The line was operated in receivership from Aug 1877 to July 1882, when the line was sold to the CB&Q, and was formally merged on May 20, 1899.
The Burlington's Aurora - Savanna line has always been known to railroaders as the C & I line. The original C & I was a stagecoach line that ran from Chicago to Galena. This road is a link between the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Aurora, and the Illinois Central Railroad at Foreston.
Chartered, 3/30/1869. Opened, 1/1/1872. Operates Chicago, Rockford & Northern Railroad as a branch. Leased Chicago, Rockford & Northern Railroad for 20 years from 1874. The charter of the Rockford Branch is owned by this company. Road sold March, 1878. Sale was set aside and now waiting adjustment, William H. Holcomb was appointed receiver, 8/1/1877.
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Acquired control 1882. Consolidated 6/1/1870 the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad.
Construction history
Constructed by Chicago & Iowa—
Aurora to Rochelle, Ill., Mar., 1869, to Jan., 1871 44.24
Oregon to Forreston, Ill., 1869 to Jan., 1872 17.96
Constructed by The Chicago, Rockford and Northern Railroad Company,
Flag Center to Rockford, Ill., 1874 to July 1, 1875 23.50
Constructed by The Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company,
Rochelle to Oregon, Ill., Jan., 1868, to Apr. 3, 1871 16.24
Total 101.94