With the impending takeover by Canadian National scheduled in late 2008, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company will cease being an independent railroad just short of its 120th birthday.

From its humble beginnings between Joliet and Aurora, it quickly grew as shippers saw the advantage of a route around the congestion of Chicago. Industry noticed the advantages too, and quickly developed along the EJ&E. With easy access to ports and other railroads, along with access to coal and limestone deposits, the EJ&E quickly became an integral part of the operations of the United States Steel Corporation.

Throughout the years -- industrial decline in the 70s, deregulation in the 80s, the mega-mergers of the 90s -- the railroad experienced trying times, but ultimately survived thanks to the hard work of its leaders and employees.

In 2007, CN saw “the J” as the solution to the Chicago bottleneck, just as the EJ&E's founders intended.