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Lake Erie and Western Railroad

Historical railroad in the Midwestern United States

The Lake Erie and Western Railroad was a railroad that operated in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The Lake Erie and Western main line extended from Sandusky, Ohio, 412 miles (663 km) westward to Peoria, Illinois, passing through Fremont and Fostoria, Ohio, Muncie and Lafayette, Indiana, and Bloomington, Illinois. It also had main lines extending from Indianapolis to Michigan City, Indiana and from Fort Wayne to Connersville, Indiana.2 It ceased to exist in 1922.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1887Founded1

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The Lake Erie and Western Railroad was a railroad that operated in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The Lake Erie and Western main line extended from Sandusky, Ohio, 412 miles (663 km) westward to Peoria, Illinois, passing through Fremont and Fostoria, Ohio, Muncie and Lafayette, Indiana, and Bloomington, Illinois. It also had main lines extending from Indianapolis to Michigan City, Indiana and from Fort Wayne to Connersville, Indiana. Principal branch lines extended from St. Marys' to Minster, Ohio and from New Castle to Rushville, Indiana.2

The story

The Lake Erie and Western Railroad was incorporated in Illinois, February 10, 1887. The "Natural Gas Route" had its beginnings in several railroads dating back to the mid-1850s, the oldest being the Peru and Indianapolis Railroad, incorporated in Indiana, January 19, 1846. The Seney Syndicate linked several short railroads in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois along with the first "The Lake Erie and Western Railway Company" of 1879. Subsequent consolidations and foreclosure sales resulted in variations of the Lake Erie and Western name, culminating in the Lake Erie and Western Railroad.

From Wikipedia’s article on Lake Erie and Western Railroad, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded by New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad1

Timeline

  1. 1922Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1887Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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