Bloomer Line

Company History: Based on their paint scheme, it would seem obvious that this line (launched in 1985) runs a former Burlington Route line in Central Illinois but that would be incorrect. A hint for the real origins of The Bloomer Line rests in their "frog-eyed" GP10 formerly from Illinois Central Gulf. The Bloomer Line name was the nickname of Illinois Central's (later ICG) route from Kankakee to Bloomington.

ICG petitioned to abandon the line in the early 80s but a coalition of on line shippers bought it and the Bloomer Line was born. In 1990, they bought a connecting former Wabash line from Norfolk Southern bringing the total mileage to about 50. A couple of short segments have since been abandoned. Today, Alliance Grain, who also owns eight grain elevators along the line, is the sole owner of the Bloomer Line. Traffic includes corn, fertilizer, soybeans and wheat. The diesel fleet has consisted of GP9s and GP9s that have been rebuilt into GP10s along with a single SW1200.

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