Urbana in Champaign County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 9, 2008
1. Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Marker
Inscription.
Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad. . The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company was chartered by the State of Ohio in January 1832 to connect west central Ohio with northern Ohio and Lake Erie. It was the first company to be incorporated for railroad purposes in the state. Construction started in Sandusky in 1835. By June 1849, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was completed to Springfield. Through a series of mergers, the railroad became known as the Big Four Railroad in 1890. It came under control of the New York Central Railroad in 1905. As the railroad industry consolidated, ownership transferred from New York Central to Penn Central and then to Conrail. In 1994, the West Central Ohio Port Authority, a special purpose district established by the boards of county commissioners of Champaign, Clark, and Fayette counties, acquired the railroad track to ensure that freight service would continue.
The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company was chartered by the State of Ohio in January 1832 to connect west central Ohio with northern Ohio and Lake Erie. It was the first company to be incorporated for railroad purposes in the state. Construction started in Sandusky in 1835. By June 1849, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was completed to Springfield. Through a series of mergers, the railroad became known as the Big Four Railroad in 1890. It came under control of the New York Central Railroad in 1905. As the railroad industry consolidated, ownership transferred from New York Central to Penn Central and then to Conrail. In 1994, the West Central Ohio Port Authority, a special purpose district established by the boards of county commissioners of Champaign, Clark, and Fayette counties, acquired the railroad track to ensure that freight service would continue.
Erected 2007 by West Central Ohio Port Authority and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 26-11.)
W. Marker is in Urbana, Ohio, in Champaign County. Marker is at the intersection of Miami Street (U.S. 36) and Railroad Overpass, on the right when traveling east on Miami Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Urbana OH 43078, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 9, 2008
2. Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Marker
Looking east along Miami Street toward downtown Urbana.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,658 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 24, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
