The Terre Haute and Alton railroad built the first bridge over the Wabash  River in 1855.  The name changed to Terre Haute, Alton and St Louis Railroad in 1856 and changed again to St Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad in 1862.  This existed until at least 1876 and was acquired by the Vanderbilts in the  mid 1880's.