In 1889-1890, the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad began constructing a railroad line at Winston, Illinois, about a mile from Litchfield, Illinois, with the intent of the line eventually reaching Madison, Illinois. At the same time, another railroad, called the St. Louis and Eastern, began building a line from Litchfield, Illinois to Glen Carbon, Illinois, also with the goal of the line extending to Madison, Illinois. Sometime in the 1890s, the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis struck an accord to lease some unbuilt right-of-way from the St. Louis and Eastern. Both lines eventually extended into Madison. The Litchfield and Madison was incorporated on March 1, 1900 by James Duncan to take over an isolated line of the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad between Litchfield, Illinois and Madison, Illinois. At that time, Duncan also took over the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis. In 1926, the L&M constructed a connection to the Chicago and North Western at Benld, Illinois. The railroad served as the entry to East St. Louis, Illinois for both the Chicago and North Western and the Illinois Central Railroad. In addition, in the 1925-1926 time frame, the C&NW obtained trackage rights over the L&M from Benld to East St. Louis. At the same time, the L&M received minor reciprocal trackage rights over the C&NW. During its life, the L&M was known for being both a bridge railroad and also a hauler of coal. Most of the coal consisted of loads brought southbound to the St. Louis area from mines in the area. It is not clear if the L&M ever operated passenger service. The railroad's physical plant did include a depot and office at Staunton, Illinois, suggesting that passenger service may well have been operated at one time. Apart from the C&NW, the L&M also connected with the Illinois Central Railroad, the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad in East St. Louis, the Alton and Southern Railway, the Illinois Terminal Railroad, the Southern Railway, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis and the Wabash Railroad. The railroad was headquartered in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Motive power
During the steam era, the L&M operated 2-8-0steam locomotives and 2-8-2 steam locomotives. In the early diesel era, the L&M operated one Baldwin VO-1000 and three ALCO RS-3s.
Merger into the Chicago and North Western
On August 1, 1957, lawyers for the Chicago and North Western filed paperwork to acquire the Litchfield and Madison outright. The Interstate Commerce Commission quickly granted the C&NW's application. The purchase price for the railroad was $8 million. The Litchfield and Madison was formally merged into the Chicago and North Western on January 2, 1958.
