B&O route to Chicago

[Roscoe P. Coaltrain]

Before the line via Sand Patch was constructed, what was the B&O's primary routing to get to Chicago?

Was it Grafton, to Wheeling, to Warwick, to Willard?

Or was it Grafton, to Parkersburg, to Zanesville, to Newark, to Willard?

Or was it Grafton, to Wheeling, to Zanesville, to Newark, to Willard?

[mmi16]

It was Grafton, to Wheeling, to Zanesville, to Newark, to Chicago Jct (which later become Willard). The line from Newark to Chicago Jct continued on to the Lake Erie port of Sandusky, OH.

[shlustig]

Wasn't the mainline via Sand Patch constructed and in service prior to the B&O going to Chicago from Chicago Jct.?

[mmi16]

Wasn't the mainline via Sand Patch constructed and in service prior to the B&O going to Chicago from Chicago Jct.?

Yes - The line from Pittsburgh to Chicago Jct still needed to be constructed. That was the last segment of the line to be built.