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Ohio & Mississippi Railway: B&O's St. Louis Link

Published: February 9, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Once the Baltimore & Ohio had reached Wheeling, Virginia in 1852 the railroad quickly expanded further west across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

By 1857 the railroad had opened through service to St. Louis via a partnership with the Marietta & Cincinnati and Ohio & Mississippi.  Both roads were completed that year and all three sytems began working closely to handle freight and passengers between Baltimore and St. Louis.

As the B&O continued its westward expansion it would acquire both systems, including the Northwestern Virginia in 1856 which provided a more direct route to the Ohio River via Grafton, Clarksburg, and Parkersburg, Virginia.

The Marietta & Cincinnati was added in 1882 (Marietta - Cincinnati, OH) while the Ohio & Mississippi (Cincinnati - St. Louis) was acquired in 1893.  Both were folded into B&O's subsidiary, the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern in 1900.

Sytem Map (1868)

The Ohio and Mississippi Railway (O&M) was a significant transportation artery in the 19th century that played a pivotal role in linking southern Ohio and Indiana towns with Cincinnati and East St. Louis.

Conceived during a period of rapid industrial expansion, the railway was chartered in 1848 by the Indiana General Assembly. The primary ambition was to establish a direct all-rail route from Cincinnati to St. Louis which then represented the nexus of eastern commerce and the growing western frontier, respectively.

Construction of the O&M Railway began in the early 1850s, spearheaded by prominent figures such as Ormsby M. Mitchel and John Brooks.

Financial backing came from a blend of private and public funds, reflecting the broader trend of robust investment in infrastructure during this era. Despite numerous challenges, including difficult terrain and financial constraints, the project pressed forward with significant momentum.

By 1857, the railway was complete and formally opened, quickly becoming a critical conduit for freight and passenger traffic. Its 340-mile stretch significantly reduced travel time between Cincinnati and St. Louis and catalyzed economic growth by facilitating the movement of goods such as agricultural products, coal, and manufactured items. Moreover, the O&M Railway strengthened the cohesiveness of the Union during the Civil War by supporting the movement of troops and resources.

In the postbellum period, the railway encountered growing competition from other rail networks and faced periodic financial struggles, ultimately leading to a series of reorganizations and mergers.

By 1893, the Ohio and Mississippi Railway was absorbed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), a reflection of the consolidation trend in the railroad industry during the late 19th Century.

The O&M’s legacy persists in its contribution to the infrastructural and economic development of the United States, as well as in shaping the Midwest's integration into the national rail network.

Early Operations

The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad extended across the southern region of Ohio, linking its eponymous cities and establishing an effective connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) at Parkersburg.

In Cincinnati, the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad intersected with the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, which ran westward through southern Indiana and Illinois, reaching the Mississippi River and St. Louis.

Despite the fact that both the B&O and the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad adhered to standard-gauge tracks, the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad utilized a broad-gauge line, preventing direct car exchanges at Cincinnati.

Nonetheless, in 1857, these three railroads formed a partnership to provide coordinated passenger services between Baltimore and St. Louis.

The through cars traveling between Baltimore and Cincinnati were transported across the Ohio River at Parkersburg, necessitating passengers to switch stations in Cincinnati to connect with the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. Despite this cumbersome arrangement, it afforded the B&O an uninterrupted rail route to St. Louis.

Like the M&C, the six-foot-gauge Ohio & Mississippi was also struggling financially. The railroad was plagued with heavy debt and expenses while producing inadequate revenues. The line traversed southern Indiana and Illinois, areas that were (and still are) sparsely populated and then still underdeveloped. In addition to its Cincinnati–East St. Louis main line, the O&M fielded two branches. One headed south from the main line at North Vernon, Indiana, to Jeffersonville, Indiana, across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. The other branch ran diagonally across Illinois from Beardstown on the Illinois River to Shawneetown on the Ohio River, crossing O&M’s main line at Flora.

O&M converted its track to standard gauge on July 13, 1871, but the road’s financial condition caused the B&O to keep its distance for several years more. Not until 1893 was the O&M acquired to complete B&O’s route to St. Louis. The O&M was formally merged into Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern in 1900.

Meanwhile, the Columbus & Cincinnati Midland Railroad had built a 70-mile line southwest from Columbus to meet M&C at Midland City, Ohio. Completed in 1885, the C&M would become part of the B&O map five years later and provide B&O with a direct through route between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati via Wheeling and Columbus.