Built as the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago Railroad during the 1880s, this line was part of the storied history of the old Monon Route. Originally built as a narrow gauge line, it was later changed to standard gauge. Once hosting hotshot passenger trains such as the Tippecanoe, the line was slowly downgraded and forgotten during the respective ownership of both the Louisville and Nashville and Seaboard System Railroads in the 1970s.

Line was slowly abandoned from Indy to Monticello over many years, section by section.