New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois Railroad: A South Bend Shortline

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   New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois
   

Published: April 9, 2026

By: Adam Burns

Despite its grand-sounding name, the New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois Railroad (NJI&I) was one of the smallest yet most fascinating industrial railroads in the United States. Stretching barely more than 11 miles across northern Indiana, the line served a highly specialized purpose: linking the manufacturing might of South Bend with the broader national rail network. Known affectionately as the “Jersey Line,” its history reflects the rise and fall of American industrial giants, the changing nature of railroad economics, and the gradual disappearance of the short industrial carriers that once dotted the Midwest.

Origins and Purpose

The NJI&I owed its existence entirely to industrial necessity. It was incorporated on October 27, 1902, at the behest of the Singer Manufacturing Company, which operated a major factory in South Bend, Indiana.

At the turn of the 20th century, Singer grew increasingly dissatisfied with the rail service available from existing carriers. To ensure reliable transportation for its products, the company took the unusual step of creating its own railroad. The name—New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois—did not reflect the railroad’s geographic reach, but rather the locations of Singer’s key manufacturing facilities across those three states.

Construction began in the early 1900s and was completed by 1904–1905. The line extended approximately 11.4 miles from South Bend southward to Pine, Indiana, where it connected with the Wabash Railroad.

From the outset, the NJI&I was essentially a single-purpose industrial branch line. Its primary role was to move finished sewing machines and raw materials between the Singer plant and the national rail system via the Wabash. Yet, like many industrial lines of the era, it quickly evolved into something slightly more complex.

Early Operations

Although built for freight, the NJI&I briefly offered passenger service in its early years. During the 1910s, the railroad operated two round-trip passenger trains daily, connecting South Bend with Detroit via the Wabash system.

This service reflected a broader trend among small railroads: even industrial carriers often provided passenger operations when demand existed. However, the NJI&I’s passenger service was always secondary to its freight mission. By the 1930s—amid declining ridership and the growing dominance of the automobile—passenger operations were discontinued.

Despite its modest size, the railroad played a vital role in the regional economy. South Bend was a major industrial center, and the NJI&I became an essential artery linking local factories with national markets.

Timetable (1929)

Expansion

While Singer was the railroad’s founding customer, it was far from the only one. The NJI&I soon attracted additional industries along its route, most notably the Studebaker Corporation, whose massive automobile works in South Bend became one of the line’s largest sources of traffic.

The railroad also served a variety of smaller industrial customers, effectively functioning as a switching and transfer line. It handled inbound raw materials—steel, coal, and parts—as well as outbound finished goods. Its connection with the Wabash allowed these shipments to move seamlessly across the Midwest and beyond.

In essence, the NJI&I became a classic “feeder” railroad: small in size but critical in function. Its fortunes were closely tied to the industries it served, a dependency that would ultimately shape its fate.

Acquisition by the Wabash Railroad

In 1926, the Wabash Railroad acquired the NJI&I.  Interestingly, despite the acquisition, the line continued to operate under its original name for decades. This arrangement was not uncommon in the railroad industry, where larger systems often maintained subsidiary lines as separate entities for accounting or operational reasons.

Under Wabash ownership, the NJI&I benefited from improved integration with a larger rail network. The Wabash itself was a significant Midwestern carrier, connecting Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City.  For the NJI&I, this meant enhanced access to markets and more efficient freight interchange. However, it also meant that the line’s independence—and its identity as a company railroad—gradually diminished.

Motive Power and Operations

For much of its early history, the NJI&I operated with steam locomotives, typical of short industrial lines of the era. By the late 1940s, it transitioned to diesel power, reflecting industry-wide trends toward more efficient and economical operations.

Its roster remained small, usually consisting of a handful of switchers suited to the line’s short-haul, industrial switching duties. Among these were an Alco S-1 and an EMD NW2—both standard diesel switchers widely used across North America.

Operations were straightforward but essential. Crews worked the line daily, moving cars between industrial sidings and the interchange at Pine. The railroad’s limited length meant that operations were highly localized, with an emphasis on switching rather than long-distance hauling.

Decline of Core Industries

The NJI&I’s fortunes began to decline in the mid-20th century, largely due to the struggles of its primary customers.  The first major blow came in 1954, when the Singer Manufacturing Company closed its South Bend plant.  This closure removed the very reason the railroad had been created. While other industries helped offset some of the lost traffic, the impact was significant.

A second—and even more devastating—blow came with the decline of the Studebaker Corporation. In December 1963, Studebaker shut down its South Bend automobile assembly plant, followed by the closure of its engine foundry in 1964.

Although the company briefly continued operations in Canada, its eventual exit from the automobile business in 1966 marked the end of an era. For the NJI&I, the loss of Studebaker meant the disappearance of one of its largest and most consistent sources of traffic.

These industrial closures were part of a broader trend affecting many Midwestern cities during the mid-20th century. As manufacturing declined or relocated, the railroads that depended on it faced shrinking traffic and uncertain futures.

Transition to Norfolk & Western and Norfolk Southern

In 1964, the Norfolk & Western Railway absorbed the Wabash Railroad, bringing the NJI&I under its control.  Under Norfolk & Western—and later Norfolk Southern Railway—the line continued to operate as a local industrial branch. While traffic levels were reduced, the railroad still served remaining customers in the South Bend area.  By this point, however, the NJI&I was no longer a distinct railroad in practice. It functioned as part of a larger system, its identity gradually fading even as its physical infrastructure remained in use.

Final Years

The NJI&I formally ceased to exist as an independent entity in 1982, when it was fully absorbed into the Norfolk Southern system.

Operations continued on portions of the line for some time, but the railroad’s original route began to shrink. Changes in routing and the consolidation of rail traffic allowed Norfolk Southern to serve many customers via alternative lines, reducing the need for the NJI&I’s original trackage.

By the late 1990s, the main line from South Bend to Pine had been largely abandoned and removed, with only short segments remaining to serve local industries.  Today, remnants of the NJI&I survive in fragmented form, still used by Norfolk Southern for local switching operations. The line’s former right-of-way, once vital to South Bend’s industrial economy, has largely disappeared or been repurposed.

Legacy

Though small in size, the New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois occupies a unique place in American railroad history.  It stands as a classic example of an industrial railroad, created by a corporation to meet its own logistical needs. Unlike larger common carriers, the NJI&I existed primarily to serve specific industries, and its success—and eventual decline—was closely tied to their fortunes.

The railroad also illustrates the broader economic transformations of the 20th century. Its rise coincided with the peak of American industrial manufacturing, while its decline mirrored the contraction of that sector in the postwar era.

Physical remnants of the line are scarce, though a few structures—such as its former headquarters in South Bend—still stand as quiet reminders of its past. Among rail enthusiasts, the NJI&I remains a subject of fascination. Its unusual name, compact size, and close association with iconic American companies like Singer and Studebaker make it a compelling case study in the diversity of railroad operations.