Indiana and Ohio Railway
Encyclopedia
The Indiana and Ohio Railway is an American
railroad that operates 570 miles (917.3 km) of track in Ohio
and parts of southeastern Indiana
. It is owned and operated by RailAmerica
, having been acquired in 2000. The Indiana and Ohio Railroad (merged into the IORY in 1997) was formed in 1978 to operate a branch between Valley Junction, Ohio and Brookville, Indiana
. The IORY's original line, acquired in 1985, connected Mason
and Monroe, Ohio
. The IORY set up a tourist operation known as the Indiana and Ohio Scenic Railway which operates over this line. Another line, acquired in 1986, runs from Norwood
to Brecon, Ohio. The system expanded north into Michigan when in 1991 it acquired the former DT&I
line between Diann, Michigan and Washington Court House, Ohio
. In 1994, it acquired two lines from Conrail in Springfield, Ohio
: one between Springfield and Bellefontaine
; and one between Springfield and Mechanicsburg
. The Indiana and Ohio Central Railroad was the designated owner of these two lines until 2004. One of the I&O's major events took place in 1996 when it was acquired by RailTex
. In 2000 RailTex was absorbed by RailAmerica
and in 2004 the I&O absorbed the Indiana and Ohio Central Railroad.
The railroad's traffic comes mainly from grain, lumber products, metals, and chemical products. The IORY hauled around 62,000 carloads in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad that operates 570 miles (917.3 km) of track in 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...
and parts of southeastern Indiana
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...
. It is owned and operated by RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
, having been acquired in 2000. The Indiana and Ohio Railroad (merged into the IORY in 1997) was formed in 1978 to operate a branch between Valley Junction, Ohio and Brookville, Indiana
Brookville, Indiana
Brookville is a town in Brookville Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,625 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Franklin County.-Geography:...
. The IORY's original line, acquired in 1985, connected Mason
Mason, Ohio
Mason is an affluent city in southwestern Warren County, Ohio, United States, 22 miles away from Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census, Mason's population was 30,712. Mason has experienced fast growth, with its historic Main Street remaining at the center of the community...
and Monroe, Ohio
Monroe, Ohio
Monroe is a city located in east central Butler and west central Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2007, the city population was 7,655, up from 4,008 in 1990....
. The IORY set up a tourist operation known as the Indiana and Ohio Scenic Railway which operates over this line. Another line, acquired in 1986, runs from Norwood
Norwood, Ohio
Norwood is the second most populous city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The city is an enclave of the larger city of Cincinnati. The population was 21,675 at the 2000 census. Originally settled as an early suburb of Cincinnati in the wooded countryside north of the city, the area is...
to Brecon, Ohio. The system expanded north into Michigan when in 1991 it acquired the former DT&I
Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad
The Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad was a railroad that operated between its namesake cities of Detroit, Michigan and Ironton, Ohio via Toledo between 1905 and 1983.-Early history:...
line between Diann, Michigan and Washington Court House, Ohio
Washington Court House, Ohio
Washington Court House is a city in Fayette County, Ohio, United States. It is the county seat of Fayette County and is located approximately halfway between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. The population was 14,192 in 2010 at the 2010 census...
. In 1994, it acquired two lines from Conrail in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
: one between Springfield and Bellefontaine
Bellefontaine, Ohio
Bellefontaine is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,069 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Bellefontaine Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau in 2003...
; and one between Springfield and Mechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg, Ohio
Mechanicsburg is a village in Champaign County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,744 at the 2000 census.Mechanicsburg laid out in 1814 on the site of the Shawnee Indian Village of Chief Ohito...
. The Indiana and Ohio Central Railroad was the designated owner of these two lines until 2004. One of the I&O's major events took place in 1996 when it was acquired by RailTex
RailTex
RailTex was a transportation holding company that specialized in owning and operating short line railroads across North America.Based in San Antonio, Texas, the public company was a leader in making unprofitable lines shed by Class I railroads into viable transportation routes.The company was sold...
. In 2000 RailTex was absorbed by RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
and in 2004 the I&O absorbed the Indiana and Ohio Central Railroad.
The railroad's traffic comes mainly from grain, lumber products, metals, and chemical products. The IORY hauled around 62,000 carloads in 2008.