Indianapolis, Ind. and Vicinity Railroads & Industries

Early Conrail operations in the Indianapolis area.

This fascinating railroad map of Indianapolis was published in Philadelphia in 1979 by the Office of the Chief Engineer of the Consolidated Rail Corporation. Three styles of lines identify Conrail, Light Density, and Other Railroads across the metropolitan area. Large industrial operations, rail yards, and other relevant infrastructure are labeled. Local businesses of note include International Harvester, G.M.C./Allison, and National Starch and Chemical Company. An inset in the upper center shows the Park 100 development northwest of downtown.

Conrail, short for Consolidated Rail Corporation, was a massive firm created by the U.S. government in 1976 to take over the operations of several bankrupt northeastern railroads, including Penn Central. It played a crucial role in revitalizing rail service in the Northeast and Midwest through the restructuring and modernization of infrastructure. By the mid-1980s, Conrail had become profitable and was privatized in 1987 through a public stock offering. In 1999, Conrail was jointly acquired and divided between Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation, marking the end of its independent operations.