The country's railroading capital, with a network of rail lines unlike anywhere else in the nation. The Fallen Flags of today - Burlington Northern; Chicago & North Western; Chicago Central; Conrail; Grand Trunk Western; Illinois Central; Santa Fe; Soo Line; and Wisconsin Central - were then still independent, operating entities. Other railroads plied the lines there as well: Belt Railway of Chicago; Chicago Rail Link; Chicago Short Line; Chicago, South Shore & South Bend; CSX Transportation; Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Indiana Harbor Belt; Iowa Interstate; Metra; Norfolk Southern; Union Pacific; and Amtrak.