Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad
| Locale | Indiana and Ohio |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | February 17, 1848–December 22, 1864 |
| Successor | Bellefontaine Railway |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad (I&B) was an American railroad founded in 1848. Its counterpart in Ohio was named the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad (B&I). The B&I ceased to exist as an independent company when it merged into the Bellefontaine Railway in September 1864. The I&B merged into the Bellefontaine Railway in December 1864.
The I&B was incorporated in the U.S. state of Indiana on February 17, 1848. Though the I&B once used the 4-foot-10-inch (1.47 m) Ohio gauge, it was quickly converted to standard gauge (4 feet 8.5 inches (1.435 m)). Its counterpart, the B&I was chartered on February 25, 1848, in the U.S. state of Ohio. A construction firm owned by Amasa Stone, Frederick Harbach, and Stillman Witt contracted to build the line. Construction began in 1849 in Indiana, and the portion of the line from Indianapolis to the Indiana-Ohio border (the I&B) was largely complete by 1851. Construction from the border east to Cleveland (the B&I) began in 1852, and the line was complete in July 1853.
On March 14, 1856, the I&B entered into a joint operating agreement with the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Cleveland Railroad (IPCR).
John Brough, a newspaper publisher and president of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, was elected the B&I's president in 1862. Stillman Witt, one of the directors of the B&I, urged Brough to run for Governor of Ohio in 1864. Knowing that Brough could not afford the large reduction in pay, Witt agreed to become president of the B&I and forward his salary to Brough. Brough agreed, and Brough continued to receive the income from Witt until Brough's death on August 29, 1865.
On September 27, 1864, the B&I and the IPCR merged to form the Bellefontaine Railway. Just three months later, on December 22, the Bellfontaine Railway absorbed with the I&B, retaining the Bellfontaine Railway name.
On May 16, 1868, the Bellefontaine Railway was purchased by the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway.
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