Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
Original plan from Chicago to Galena | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | northern Illinois |
| Dates of operation | 1836 (chartered); 1848 (in service)–1864 |
| Successor | Chicago and North Western |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) was the first railroad constructed out of Chicago, intended to provide a shipping route between Chicago and the lead mines near Galena, Illinois. The railroad company was chartered on January 16, 1836, but financial difficulties delayed construction until 1848. While the main line never reached Galena, construction to Freeport, Illinois, allowed it to connect with the Illinois Central Railroad and provide direct service to Galena. A second line was built to Fulton, Illinois; eventually this route connected to railroads in Iowa and Nebraska, and became the eastern link to the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. The G&CU was also the original railroad of what became the Chicago & North Western railroad network.