This line was first constructed in 1870 by the Rockford, Rock Island and Saint Louis Railroad. Over time, the RRI&StL was renamed to the Saint Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railroad in 1876, which then came under the control of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1899, and ultimately the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1971.

Abandonment of the line came under the BN, first in 1980 between East Alton and Whitehall, and finally the remainder of the line to Concord in 1983.