Predecessors The Columbus, Springfield and Cincinnati Railroad opened the line between Columbus and
London in 1872, and it became part of the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway's (Big Four's) main line west from Columbus to
St. Louis and later part of the
New York Central Railroad. The
Ohio State Limited ran daily along the line with stops in
Lilly Chapel,
Georgesville,
Galloway, and Columbus. The Ohio State Limited ceased service on the line in the 1960s. The
Penn Central Transportation Company shifted traffic to the ex-
Pennsylvania Railroad line between Columbus and London, and the portion of the old Big Four line west of Lilly Chapel was not included in
Conrail in 1976. The remainder was kept as a minor branch line, the Camp Chase Industrial Track.
Camp Chase Industrial Railroad On October 11, 1994, the new Camp Chase Industrial Railroad bought the line from Conrail. In 1996, it was reported that the railroad had one engine and traffic of 3,000 cars a year, carrying newsprint, grain, flour and lumber. The Camp Chase Railroad was featured on the
WOSU show
Columbus Neighborhoods on November 16, 2017. In 2023,
Gulf & Atlantic Railways purchased the railroad along with two other shortlines. Through
trackage rights, the CCRA interchanges with
Norfolk Southern Railway at Watkins Yard and
CSX at Parsons Yard. In 2013, the Camp Chase Railway ran approximately one train a day at less than . The company's tracks end in
Lilly Chapel. == Rolling stock ==