The Bloomer Shippers Connecting Railroad Co. (aka The Bloomer Line) operates two connected lines in central Illinois. The first one is from Colfax to Kempton, IL, and the second is from Strawn to Gibson City, IL. Traffic is primarily grain, fertilizer, plastics, and lumber. They are headquartered in Gibson City. The railroad connects with the TP&W at Chatsworth, IL, and the Norfolk Southern at Gibson City.

The former Illinois Central line was originally built by the Kankakee & Southwestern Railroad in 1878 and eventually became the Illinois Central's Bloomington District. In 1985, face with abandonment of the line, shippers formed the Bloomer Shippers Railway Redevelopment League and purchased a segment of the line from Barnes to Herscher, IL. Railroad operations began in June of that year on 36 miles of track between Colfax and Kempton, IL.

In 1990, the Norfolk & Western was also looking to divest itself of less profitable lines in Illinois. The Bloomer, in May of that year, acquired a segment of the former Wabash's Chicago-Decatur route between Strawn and Gibson City, IL.

Locomotives Currently On Roster
Photo	Number	Model	1st #	2nd #	3rd #	4th #	5th #	6th #	7th #
	BLOL 7504	GP10	IC 9222	ICG 8222	GMSR 8222	MSRC 1083	OHCR 704	SPCX 704	BLOL 704
	BLOL 7549	GP10	NYC 5943	NYC 7515	PC 7515	PC 7343	CR 7343	CR 7549
	BLOL 7561	GP10	NYC 6002	NYC 7402	PC 7402	CR 7402	CR 7561
	BLOL 7591	GP9	NP 370	BN 1949	BLOL 91
	LTEX 1413	GP15-1	CR 1627	NS 1413

LTEX 1413 is leased from Larry's Truck Electric.

BLOL 55 sold to Central Soya at Gibson City, IL.
BLOL 92 sold to an Taloma Farmer's Grain at Allen, IL.

Radio Frequency:    161.355

Address:    Route 9 West
                  P.O. Box 546
                  Gibson City, IL 60936

Reporting Mark:    BLOL

Updated November 12, 2008 ©2008 IlliniRail.com