Bloomer
Shippers Connecting Railroad - (en)
The Bloomer Shippers Connecting Railroad (or Bloomer Line) (AAR reporting
marks BLOL), headquartered in Gibson City, Illinois, is a Class III
railroad serving agricultural communities in east-central Illinois.
History
In June 1985, the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad (ICG) sold a portion of
its circuitous route between Kankakee and Bloomington to a new spin-off
railroad company which called itself "The Bloomer Line" (after
the ex-Illinois Central Railroad division it had purchased). Specifically,
the Bloomer Line purchased the right-of-way between Herscher and Barnes.
The railroad has since taken the line between Herscher and Kempton and
Barnes and Colfax out of service.
At Chatsworth, the Bloomer Line makes a connection with the Toledo, Peoria
and Western Railway. In May 1990, the railroad purchased from the Norfolk
and Western Railway its ex-Wabash Railway line from near Risk south to
Gibson City. Connections to N&W successor Norfolk Southern and ICG
successor Canadian National Railway are made at Gibson City.
