Hobo's Guide to the Pennsy

Columbus, Piqua & Indiana RR Co.

Edited by Tom Vondruska (deceased)

Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad Co.

Granted a charter by the Ohio General Assembly Feb. 23, 1849, this road was the result of efforts of an investor from Piqua, Ohio, (Miami Co.) and a consortium from Urbana, Ohio, (Champaign Co.) to build a rail line westward from Columbus, Ohio, (Franklin Co.). It would connect with the Mad River & Lake Erie at Urbana and the Bellfountaine & Indianapolis Railroad, 103 miles west of Columbus at Union City, Ohio/Ind. (Darke Co., Ohio/Randolph Co., Ind.).

Construction of the 78 miles from Columbus to Covington, Ohio, (Miami Co.) began in late 1850. The line to Urbana and the MR&LE was opened to traffic on July 29, 1853. The Great Miami River bridge at Piqua was opened Oct. 16, 1854 (the covered wooden bridge soon was destroyed by fire).

A lack of financing halted construction in 1856 after the railhead reached Darke County. It was completed to Union City and the B&I on March 25, 1859. The same year the company defaulted on its debt, forcing it into receivership. A 1863 foreclosure resulted in its reorganization as the Columbus & Indianapolis Railroad Co.

Last modified: November 24 2007.

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