This abandoned railway line was originally built by the Peoria-Farmington Railroad around 1882, and has since been under ownership of the Chicago and North Western and Union Pacific Railroads. It is also known as the Elm Industrial Lead.
In the summer of 2008, UP filed to abandon the section of the line between Middle Grove and Peoria, IL. The 24.7-mile segment is from mile post 461.5 near Middle Grove to mile post 486.2 at Molitor Junction in Fulton and Peoria Counties. As of December 2008 it had not yet been decided if the line will be rail banked and used as a trail, or if UP's abandonment request will be granted. Web postings said that some Hanna City residents did not want the line turned into a trail.
On September 30, 2008, Keokuck Junction Railway, a subsidiary of Peoria, IL-based Pioneer Railcorp withdrew its application to acquire and operate the line.