Elgin,
Joliet and Eastern Railway - (en)
The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (AAR reporting marks EJE) is a
short-line railroad operating in Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding
suburbs. The railroad is a link between Class I railroads serving Chicago
and local industries in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. Locals
affectionately call the EJ&E Line "The J".
History
The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern was created in 1888, when the Elgin, Joliet
and Eastern Railway merged with the Joliet, Aurora and Northern Railway.
After purchasing more track, the EJ&E officially began operations
January 1, 1889. In 1894, the railway began to serve industries in Eastern
Chicago/Western Indiana, and in 1901, the railway was bought by the U.S.
Steel Corporation. 89 years later, Transtar Inc. became the shareholder of
the EJ&E. As of 2007, it has remained the shareholder of the railway.
On May 16, 2006, the EJ&E was the recipient of the 2005 Bronze E.H.
Harriman Award for employee safety in group C (line-haul railroads with
less than 4 million employee hours per year).
