The Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway (CCC&I) was formed from the merger of the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad (CC&C) with the Bellefontaine Railway in 1868.

It immediately began to build its own locomotives at its shops in Cleveland and Galion, Ohio, but also continued to buy engines from outside vendors.

[3] On July 23, 1882, the CCC&I acquired the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad (I&SL) in a judicial sale.

The St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute railroad, which the I&SL had leased, was included in the sale.

[3] On July 1, 1889, the CCC&I merged with lines in Indiana and Illinois to form the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, known as the Big Four Route.