The Red Rail was a popular nickname for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) line that ran through central and southern Illinois in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The railroad was given this moniker due to the bright red color of its rail cars and locomotives.
Origins of the Nickname
The CB&Q line was constructed in the 1850s and 1860s, connecting Chicago to towns and cities throughout Illinois. According to historical accounts, the railroad chose to paint their rail cars and engines bright red, a distinctive color that stood out from other lines operating in the region at the time.
This vibrant red paint scheme earned the railroad its “Red Rail” nickname. The trains streaking across the Illinois prairie with their fiery red locomotives and cars became an iconic sight during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The nickname was widely used by local residents in towns all along the rail line.
Route of the Red Rail
The CB&Q Red Rail mainline ran south from Chicago, through central Illinois cities like Mendota, Princeton and Galesburg before angling southwest to Quincy. From there, the tracks continued south to Alton before finally connecting with the railroad’s hub of St. Louis.
Key cities and towns served by the Red Rail included:
- Chicago
- Aurora
- Mendota
- Princeton
- Kewanee
- Galesburg
- Macomb
- Quincy
- Alton
- St. Louis
The bright red trains connected these cities and agricultural areas of Illinois to the bustling commerce of Chicago. The railroad opened up markets for midwestern farmers and facilitated development across the central and western regions of the state.
History of the Red Rail
The origins of the CB&Q railroad date back to the 1850s, when the early components of the line were chartered and constructed between Chicago, Aurora and the Quad Cities area. The railroad was initially known as the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy due to those being the original endpoints of the route.
Construction on the Red Rail route accelerated in the 1860s heading south and west from Chicago and Galesburg towards Quincy and Hannibal, Missouri. The line was completed in 1870, connecting Chicago to St. Louis and points further west via rail for the first time.
In addition to passengers, the Red Rail became a vital transportation link for commodities like grain, livestock and lumber. The railroad saw heavy traffic volumes as it served the agricultural economy. Its bright red trains became a familiar sight across Illinois from the late 1800s into the early 1900s.
The line was an early adopter of diesel locomotives in the 1930s. By the 1960s, railroads were struggling with the rise of automobiles, trucks and airplanes. The CB&Q railroad merged with several others to create the Burlington Northern system in 1970.
Unique Features of the Red Rail
In addition to its distinctive red color, the CB&Q Red Rail had some other unique features and innovations:
- Zephyr Streamlined Trains – Sleek, diesel-powered stainless steel trains introduced in 1934 for higher speed passenger service.
- Ethan Allen Express – Luxurious passenger train service launched between Chicago and St. Louis in 1956.
- Wide-Vision Caboose – Enclosed cupola cabooses used on freight trains for better rear visibility.
- REB-1 Box Car – State-of-the-art refrigerated boxcar designed to transport perishable goods.
These features demonstrated the railroad’s engineering expertise and its focus on speed, comfort and reliability for both passengers and freight customers.
Decline of the Red Rail
Like most railroads in the United States, the CB&Q Red Rail struggled to compete with alternative modes of transportation in the mid-20th century. Key factors leading to its demise included:
- Expansion of the highway system – Faster travel by car reduced passenger rail usage.
- Growth of trucking – Flexible door-to-door service siphoned off freight business.
- Development of air travel – Airlines captured long-distance passenger markets.
- Industry regulation – Strict rules limited railroads’ flexibility and revenue.
- Suburbanization – Population shift to suburbs reduced urban rail transit.
These dynamics made railroads far less profitable by the 1960s. This led to a wave of railroad bankruptcies and forced mergers. The CB&Q Red Rail was absorbed into the combined Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970.
While Amtrak continued to offer passenger rail service and Burlington Northern carried freight, the quintessential red painted locomotives and rail cars of the original Red Rail were relegated to history and memories of an earlier era of transportation.
Legacy of the Red Rail
At its peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the CB&Q Red Rail was a vital transportation artery for the Midwest. Though the railroad is long gone, its legacy lives on in many ways:
- Many small towns in Illinois owe their growth and development to the Red Rail line.
- Grain elevators, stockyards and other facilities were built to serve the railroad.
- The railroad’s history is celebrated at museums in Galesburg and Quincy.
- Restored CB&Q steam locomotives draw crowds at railway heritage events.
- Model railroaders faithfully recreate the iconic red trains of the Red Rail.
The CB&Q Red Rail played a pivotal role in shaping Illinois and stimulating commerce during a transformational era in American history. The bright red trains remain a nostalgic symbol of trade and travel from a bygone time.
Conclusion
The Red Rail nickname vividly captured the defining characteristic of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in its heyday – the fiery red paint on its locomotives and cars streaking across the Illinois prairie. While the CB&Q itself slipped into history, the Red Rail remains an enduring icon, representing a critical transportation link that fueled economic growth in 19th and early 20th century Illinois.