Butler Branch (Indiana)
Encyclopedia
The Butler Branch is a historic railroad line that operated in Indiana
, USA. It ran between the city of Logansport
on the Wabash River
in north central Indiana and the namesake town of Butler
near the Ohio
border in northeastern Indiana.
This line was better known as the Eel River Railroad (late 19th century), since it roughly followed that northern Indiana waterway between Logansport and Columbia City
; thus it was also known as the "Eel River Route" or "Eel River Line" under subsequent leaseholders and owners. In 1901, it was acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad
(PRR), and it was operated by various wholly owned subsidiaries of that company as follows: Terre Haute & Indianapolis (TH&I) from 1901 to 1904, Vandalia Railroad
from 1905 to 1916, and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis (PCC&StL)
beginning in 1917. During this era, the line obtained the "Butler Branch" designation. From that northeast Indiana town, trackage rights
allowed PRR trains to continue over the Wabash Railroad
to Toledo, Ohio
.
In Logansport, the line began at a junction with the PRR's South Bend Branch
, with access to its Effner Branch and I&F (Indianapolis & Frankfort) Branch tracks. The line crossed the PRR's Chicago to Pittsburgh Main Line
at Columbia City
and the Grand Rapids Branch at LaOtto
.
Between Columbia City
and a point due south of Garrett
(or just northwest of Cedar
), the alignment of Indiana State Route 205
was built to closely parallel a very straight section of the (now former) tracks of the Eel River Railroad (also known as the Butler Branch line).
and Auburn
was opened, On October 18, 1873 the section between Auburn and Butler was completed. The entire line opened in 1874, completed by the Detroit, Eel River and Illinois Rail Road. The company was reorganized in 1877 as the Eel River Railroad.
, and the East Coast
. Problems occurred by 1890 with the lease agreement when the Wabash leased the 9.63 miles (15.5 km) Peru & Detroit Railway running between Peru
and Chili
to ease movements with a connecting line from Chili to Peru, abandoning the line between Chili and Logansport. Bondholders residing in the Logansport area, in outage, began a ten-year legal battle.
A court ruled that the Eel River Railroad's charter was forfeited by its lease to a competing company (the Wabash), leading to the bondholders regaining control of the railroad. The Wabash continued to use the line on an interim lease until 1902, when the Wabash completed a 25.6 miles (41.2 km) line between New Haven
and Butler.
in 1901, when operations were transferred to the PRR's Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad. This gave the PRR a route between St. Louis and Toledo, via a connection with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
at Butler. In 1905, the L&T was merged with other lines (including the TH&I) to form the Vandalia Railroad
, a new operating subsidiary of the PRR.
The Vandalia gained trackage rights
over the Wabash from Butler into Toledo's Union Station on June 1, 1913, allowing for through freight and passenger service from Toledo to St. Louis and Chicago
. The Vandalia was merged into the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
on January 1, 1917, and the Pennsylvania Railroad
began operating the branch directly on January 1, 1921 with a lease of the PCC&StL.
placed on the line between Auburn and Butler due to poor conditions, abandonment of the line began in 1954 with complete abandonment by 1977.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA. It ran between the city of Logansport
Logansport, Indiana
Logansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,396 at the 2010 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana, at the junction of the Wabash and Eel rivers, northeast of Lafayette.-History:...
on the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
in north central Indiana and the namesake town of Butler
Butler, Indiana
Butler is a city in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,684 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Butler is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
near the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
border in northeastern Indiana.
This line was better known as the Eel River Railroad (late 19th century), since it roughly followed that northern Indiana waterway between Logansport and Columbia City
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
; thus it was also known as the "Eel River Route" or "Eel River Line" under subsequent leaseholders and owners. In 1901, it was acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR), and it was operated by various wholly owned subsidiaries of that company as follows: Terre Haute & Indianapolis (TH&I) from 1901 to 1904, Vandalia Railroad
Vandalia Railroad
Vandalia Railroad may refer to:*Vandalia Railroad , a shortline subsidiary of Pioneer Railcorp*Vandalia Railroad , a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad...
from 1905 to 1916, and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis (PCC&StL)
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, commonly called the Pan Handle Route , was a railroad forming part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. Its common name came from its main line west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania across the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia...
beginning in 1917. During this era, the line obtained the "Butler Branch" designation. From that northeast Indiana town, trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
allowed PRR trains to continue over the Wabash Railroad
Wabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
.
In Logansport, the line began at a junction with the PRR's South Bend Branch
South Bend Branch
The South Bend Branch was a Pennsylvania Railroad line that ran from South Bend, Indiana to Logansport, Indiana. The line was built in 1883 and was then a part of the Vandalia Railroad...
, with access to its Effner Branch and I&F (Indianapolis & Frankfort) Branch tracks. The line crossed the PRR's Chicago to Pittsburgh Main Line
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway
The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway was a major part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, extending the PRR west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania via Fort Wayne, Indiana to Chicago, Illinois...
at Columbia City
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
and the Grand Rapids Branch at LaOtto
LaOtto, Indiana
LaOtto is a small town in southeastern Noble County, Indiana. Located west of the current intersection of Indiana State Road 3 and Indiana State Road 205, it is 16 miles north of Fort Wayne and is also in close proximity to Kendallville and Auburn...
.
Between Columbia City
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
and a point due south of Garrett
Garrett, Indiana
Garrett is a city in Keyser Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,286 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1875, Garrett was named for John W...
(or just northwest of Cedar
Cedar, Indiana
Cedar is an unincorporated town in Butler Township, DeKalb County, Indiana....
), the alignment of Indiana State Route 205
Indiana State Road 205
State Road 205 is a short north–south, largely rural surface highway in north-eastern Indiana. Although classified as north–south, it actually runs mostly in a north-easterly direction.-Route description:...
was built to closely parallel a very straight section of the (now former) tracks of the Eel River Railroad (also known as the Butler Branch line).
Early history
The first attempt to construct a railroad along the Eel River was by the Toledo, Logansport & Northern Rail Road in 1856; however this company was unsuccessful. In 1872 the section between DenverDenver, Indiana
Denver is a town in Jefferson Township, Miami County, Indiana, United States. The population was 541 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denver is located at ....
and Auburn
Auburn, Indiana
Auburn is a city in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,086 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1836 by Wesley Park , the city is the county seat of DeKalb County. Auburn is also known as Home of the Classics.-Geography:...
was opened, On October 18, 1873 the section between Auburn and Butler was completed. The entire line opened in 1874, completed by the Detroit, Eel River and Illinois Rail Road. The company was reorganized in 1877 as the Eel River Railroad.
Wabash Railroad controversy
Struggling financially, on August 26, 1879 the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway signed a 99-year lease agreement with the railroad. This lease worked out profitably for the Wabash, giving it a direct line from Detroit to its main line at Logansport, and they used the line as a key connecting link between St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. Problems occurred by 1890 with the lease agreement when the Wabash leased the 9.63 miles (15.5 km) Peru & Detroit Railway running between Peru
Peru, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,994 people, 5,410 households, and 3,397 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,815.5 people per square mile . There were 5,943 housing units at an average density of 1,287.7 per square mile...
and Chili
Chili, Indiana
Chili is an unincorporated town in Richland Township, Miami County, Indiana....
to ease movements with a connecting line from Chili to Peru, abandoning the line between Chili and Logansport. Bondholders residing in the Logansport area, in outage, began a ten-year legal battle.
A court ruled that the Eel River Railroad's charter was forfeited by its lease to a competing company (the Wabash), leading to the bondholders regaining control of the railroad. The Wabash continued to use the line on an interim lease until 1902, when the Wabash completed a 25.6 miles (41.2 km) line between New Haven
New Haven, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,406 people, 4,900 households, and 3,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,522.0 people per square mile . There were 5,141 housing units at an average density of 630.7 per square mile...
and Butler.
Vandalia Railroad era
With local shareholders back in control, the line was reorganized as the Logansport and Toledo Railway (L&T) and bought by the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in 1901, when operations were transferred to the PRR's Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad. This gave the PRR a route between St. Louis and Toledo, via a connection with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
at Butler. In 1905, the L&T was merged with other lines (including the TH&I) to form the Vandalia Railroad
Vandalia Railroad
Vandalia Railroad may refer to:*Vandalia Railroad , a shortline subsidiary of Pioneer Railcorp*Vandalia Railroad , a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad...
, a new operating subsidiary of the PRR.
The Vandalia gained trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Wabash from Butler into Toledo's Union Station on June 1, 1913, allowing for through freight and passenger service from Toledo to St. Louis and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The Vandalia was merged into the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, commonly called the Pan Handle Route , was a railroad forming part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. Its common name came from its main line west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania across the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia...
on January 1, 1917, and the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
began operating the branch directly on January 1, 1921 with a lease of the PCC&StL.
Abandonment
As the Vandalia line, the track gave purely local services, and business declined as did the quality of the rail line. With an embargoEmbargo
An embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
placed on the line between Auburn and Butler due to poor conditions, abandonment of the line began in 1954 with complete abandonment by 1977.
Cities and towns along the Butler Branch Railroad
All cities and towns in Indiana- LogansportLogansport, IndianaLogansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,396 at the 2010 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana, at the junction of the Wabash and Eel rivers, northeast of Lafayette.-History:...
- Van
- AdamsboroAdamsboro, IndianaAdamsboro is an unincorporated town in Clay Township, Cass County, Indiana....
- HooverHoover, IndianaHoover is an unincorporated town in Adams Township, Cass County, Indiana....
- MexicoMexico, IndianaMexico is a census-designated place in Miami County, Indiana, United States. The population was 984 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mexico is located at ....
- DenverDenver, IndianaDenver is a town in Jefferson Township, Miami County, Indiana, United States. The population was 541 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denver is located at ....
- ChiliChili, IndianaChili is an unincorporated town in Richland Township, Miami County, Indiana....
- Pettsville
- RoannRoann, IndianaRoann is a town in Paw Paw Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. The population was 400 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Roann is located at ....
- LaketonLaketon, IndianaLaketon is an unincorporated town in Pleasant Township, Wabash County, Indiana....
- Newton
- North ManchesterNorth Manchester, IndianaNorth Manchester is a town in Chester Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. Peter Ogan, acting as the town’s founder filed for recording the 'Original Plat of Manchester' on February 13, 1846...
. Schwalm Hall of Manchester College was built in 1961 when the railroad was still in operation, and was known for being on "the other side of the tracks." - Liberty MillsLiberty Mills, IndianaLiberty Mills is an unincorporated town in Chester Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States located on the Eel River. Proprietor John Comstock platted the town September 5, 1837. The name Liberty Mills comes from the number of mills the town once operated, including a saw mill, a carding...
- CollamerCollamer, IndianaCollamer is an unincorporated town in Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States located on the Eel River and at the intersection of Indiana State Road 14 and Whitley County road 900 W. Smith Rambo platted the town February 9, 1846...
- South WhitleySouth Whitley, IndianaSouth Whitley is a town in Cleveland Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,751 at the 2010 census. South Whitley is a town in the Midwestern tradition of red brick buildings and tree-lined streets.-Geography:...
- Wynkoop
- Vandale
- Columbia CityColumbia City, IndianaColumbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
- CollinsCollins, IndianaCollins is an unincorporated town in Smith Township, Whitley County, Indiana....
- ChurubuscoChurubusco, IndianaChurubusco ; often shortened to Busco ), is a town located near the headwaters of the Eel River in the extreme northeast corner of Whitley County, Indiana, United States, in Smith Township, about northwest of Fort Wayne...
- AriAri, IndianaAri is an unincorporated town in Eel River Township, Allen County, Indiana.-Geography:Ari is located at on the border of Allen and Noble counties....
- LaOttoLaOtto, IndianaLaOtto is a small town in southeastern Noble County, Indiana. Located west of the current intersection of Indiana State Road 3 and Indiana State Road 205, it is 16 miles north of Fort Wayne and is also in close proximity to Kendallville and Auburn...
- CedarCedar, IndianaCedar is an unincorporated town in Butler Township, DeKalb County, Indiana....
- AuburnAuburn, IndianaAuburn is a city in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,086 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1836 by Wesley Park , the city is the county seat of DeKalb County. Auburn is also known as Home of the Classics.-Geography:...
- MooreMoore, IndianaMoore, Indiana is an unincorporated community in Wilmington Township, DeKalb County, Indiana in the northeast corner of the State. There are twenty homes along the 1½ mile stretch of County Road 49 which forms the general area of the community. Moore was a thriving town around the turn of the 20th...
- ButlerButler, IndianaButler is a city in DeKalb County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,684 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Butler is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
Recent developments
Since being completely abandoned in 1977, the ground which laid the railroad has been left mostly untouched, leaving behind a ghostly touch of the past. Most of the larger bridges have been removed, but many of the smaller wooden bridges covering creeks remain. In Logansport, the path of the line has been turned into a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) asphalt surface trail, called the River Bluff Trail, and a similar effort is in the works between South Whitley and Columbia City, called the Eel River Trail.Sources
- Sulzer, Elmer Griffith. "Butler to Auburn, Churubusco to Columbia City (Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad; Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad)." Ghost Railroads of Indiana. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998. 152-53
- Simons, Richard S. and Francis H. Parker. "The Eel River: Litigation Unlimited." Railroads of Indiana. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997. 211-13.
- Simons, Richard S. "The Eel River and Its Railroad." National Railway Bulletin 53, no. 6 (1988), pp. 28–35.
- "Eel River Line to Eel River Trail". EelRiverTrail.com
- "Photos of the rail line area today in Whitley County, Indiana", Flickr.com