Blackhawk Chapter of the NRHS - Images of the EJ&E

Around Not Thru Chicago

From humble beginnings between Joliet and Aurora, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company quickly grew as shippers saw the advantage of a route around the congestion of Chicago. Industry noticed the advantages too, and quickly developed along the EJ&E. With easy access to ports and other railroads, along with access to coal and limestone deposits, the EJ&E quickly became an integral part of the operations of the United States Steel Corporation.

Throughout the years -- industrial decline in the 70s, deregulation in the 80s, the mega-mergers of the 90s -- the railroad experienced trying times, but ultimately survived thanks to the hard work of its leaders and employees.

In 2007, CN saw “the J” as the solution to the Chicago bottleneck, just as the EJ&E's founders intended and on February 1, 2009, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern's flag fell just short of its 120th birthday..

Celebrate our region's unique shortline with these CD-ROMs from the Blackhawk Chapter archives:

Images of the EJ&E Volume 1 features over 150 images of *“the J”* including: photographs of cars, locomotives and structures, steam locomotive drawings, and maps.
Images of the EJ&E Volume 2 features over 200 images, including a history of the railroad, employee picnic programs, employee timetables, promotional materials and more long-lost photos of equipment and facilities.
Images of the EJ&E Volume 3 features 230 all-color photographs of equipment and facilities dating from the 1950's to 2009.

All of the above Windows™-compatible CD-ROMs are priced at $12.

Click here to order from The Blackhawk Store