Transtar). The purchase agreement was officially announced on September 26; CN would purchase the majority of the line. The purchase was initially expected to close in mid-2008, valued at $300 million. In fact, the closing did not take place until January 31, 2009 (effective February 1, 2009), following regulatory approval of the purchase by the Surface Transportation Board on December 24, 2008. Canadian National plans to use the EJ&E to route trains around Chicago, where they now face lengthy delays because of congestion in the busy rail hub. In accordance with its agreement with CN, Transtar retained some railroad infrastructure in Gary, Indiana; this infrastructure has been reorganized as the Gary Railway to continue serving U.S. Steel's plants located there. On Tuesday, March 10, 2009, the first two Canadian National trains debuted on the Elgin, Joliet, & Eastern, with plans to run six trains per day on the lines in the near future. Motive power All-time diesel roster The EJ&E's all time diesel roster consisted of: Locomotive designations in bold indicate that these models were on the roster at the time of the railroad's sale to the Canadian National Railway. Communities The EJ&E connects the following cities and large towns: Waukegan, Illinois Libertyville, Illinois Vernon Hills, Illinois Lake Zurich, Illinois Barrington, Illinois Hoffman Estates, Illinois Elgin, Illinois West Chicago, Illinois Aurora, Illinois Plainfield, Illinois Joliet, Illinois Minooka, Illinois Morris, Illinois New Lenox, Illinois Mokena, Illinois Frankfort, Illinois Richton Park, Illinois Chicago Heights, Illinois Park Forest, Illinois Griffith, Indiana Gary, Indiana See also Belt Railway Company of Chicago Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Gary Railway References External links Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Archive Shortlines of Chicago Historical Society: EJ&E history Regional railroads in the United States Defunct Illinois railroads Defunct Indiana railroads Transportation in Gary, Indiana Railroads in the Chicago metropolitan area Grundy County, Illinois Lake County, Indiana 1889 establishments in Illinois Former Class I railroads in the United States Railway companies established in 1889 Canadian National Railway Defunct Wisconsin railroads Transportation in Lake County, Illinois Transportation in Will County, Illinois Transportation in Cook County, Illinois Transportation in DuPage County, Illinois 1889 establishments in Indiana 1898 mergers and acquisitions 2013 disestablishments in Illinois