History

    In February 1861, the Monticello Railroad Company was formed.  Alas, this was right before the outbreak of the Civil War, and like on so many other lines, the Civil War brought a halt to railroad building.  It wasn't until 1872 that the line was built from Monticello to Champaign.  The line from Monticello to Decatur and White Heath to Havana was built in 1873 by the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln & Eastern.  From the very start the "Pea Nut Line", as it was nicknamed, routed traffic away from the Illinois Central Railroad.  In 1886, the Champaign, Havana & Western Railroad was formed by the IC to purchase the property.  The line was leased by the IC in 1888.

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