Timetable: Joliet Branch (Cutoff) - East Gary, IN to Joliet, IL

The Joliet branch was built as the Joliet and Northern Indiana railroad in 1854. It was leased by the Michigan Central railroad upon completion and designed to be a bypass around Chicago, which would save 1-2 days versus going through Chicago. The MC paid for the bulk of the investment in the road. This branch, known informally as the "cutoff", offered two passenger trains each way daily, and provided "bridge" traffic between the two ends. It did not have significant local industry.

Key: BB=Bascule Bridge | C=Coal | CS=Car Shop | D=Open > Day | DN=Open Day and night | DS=Dispatcher | DT=Double Main Track | EH=Engine house | F=Diesel Fuel | HI=Half Interlocked Crossing | I=Interlocked Crossing | J=Junction | LB=Lift bridge | N=Open at night | P=Passing Track w/40' car capacity | Q=Quarry | RH=Roundhouse # stalls | RT=Railroad Resort | S=Scales | SB=Swing bridge | T=Turntable | TC=Telegraph call | W=Water | X=Crossing | Y=Wye | Yard=Yard

Notes

[REF] = [NYC-2024-Q3

Matteson: Matteson served as a grade crossing of the Illinois Central railroad with this branch until 1922, when the IC tracks were elevated over this line. The depot was also demolished in 1922. [NYC-2024-Q3]

Chicago Heights: A Ford assembly plant was located here.

Steele: This was an interchange point with the Wabash and auto parts were interchanged for St. Louis and Kansas City. The Wabash crossed on an overpass. Chicago Heights had a Chrysler plant served nearby by the C&EI.

Joliet: The water tank here had a 85,000 gallon capacity. The 10-stall roundhouse was built in 1918 but was reduced to 5-stalls in the 1950's. The turntable was 90'. This was the only coal station on the branch.

The line was single track operated by timetable and train orders. From 1920 to 1960 it was operated by manual block rules. It had no automatic block signals.

Most freight traffic on the cutoff started and ended at the Niles, MI yard. Elkhart, IN yard took over after its expansion in 1957 and Niles was downgraded. The cutoff reached peak traffic during World War II.

Time Line

1915. The two roundtrip passenger trains were cut back to one mixed train. A parallel interurban (J&ST) provided 2-hour headway for passenger trains and took over most of the business. The mixed train was operated until 1925.

1960's. The 40 mph speed limit was reduced to 10 mph is some locations as the line was downgraded. Most traffic was diverted to the Kankakee Belt, leaving just one round trip freight per day.

1973. A derailment at Joliet damages a moveable point frog. Due to lack of money, a see-say switch move was required to reach the Rock Island yard. The line was embargoed between Joliet and Frankfort. Porter, IN became the new home base, rather than Joliet.

1976. Conrail took over the Penn Central and decided not to take over the branch, other than a state-funded service in Frankfort. The Cutoff was abandoned between Chicago Heights and Frankfort, and from Hartsdale and East Gary.

Books and Articles

• Central Headlight, New York Central System Historical Society. 2024 3rd Quarter.