CN Cemetery Road Bridge (Channahon)

In 1888, the Gardner, Coal City & Northern Railway (GCC&N) constructed a railroad line extending south from Plainfield, Illinois to South Wilmington, Illinois.  The route served as a branch line to serve industries along the Illinois River.  The railroad was incorporated into the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E) soon after completion.  The EJ&E formed an outer belt around Chicago, connecting to all railroads entering the city.  This line served as a branch line for the railroad.  In addition, the EJ&E served the numerous steel mills located along Lake Michigan.  During the late 1890s, steel companies were utilizing vertical integration to streamline operations.  The railroad would become a subsidiary of Illinois Steel in 1898, later becoming part of Federal Steel Company, and eventually United States Steel Corporation in 1901. Under US Steel, the EJ&E would retain its name.  During the early 20th Century, the branch slowly diminished in importance as industries closed.  The line between Goose Lake and South Wilmington would be abandoned in 1935.  During the 20th Century, more industries began to open along the line.  In 1988, US Steel sold the EJ&E to  Transtar, a holding company.  The EJ&E was sold to the Canadian National Railway (CN) in 2009.  Today, CN operates the Illinois River Subdivision between Plainfield and Goose Lake.