Built by the Lafayette and Indianapolis Railroad in 1850. Over the years and due to mergers, the line was owned by a number of railroads during its operation:
- Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Lafayette Railroad, 1867
- Cincinnati, Chicago and St Louis Railroad, 1880
- Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St Louis Railroad (the Big Four), 1889
- New York Central Railroad, 1930
- Penn Central Railroad, 1968
- Conrail, 1976
The line hosted Abraham Lincoln's inaugural train in 1861 and his funeral train in 1865.