Years of Service
1977
In 1977, Conrail planned to abandon 25 miles of their ex-New York Central Railroad trackage between Kankakee and Sheldon, Illinois. Beaverville businessman, Fey Orr, purchased the line and began operating as the Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad on December 1. Initially, he used it to service his lumber business and agricultural products industry based there.
1980
Several other abandonments occurred in the area by Class I railroads. In August of 1980, KB&S aquired 60 miles of the Milwaukee Road's "Southeastern Line" between North Hooper and Danville, Illinois. A connection named Iroquois Jct was built between the Kankakee - Sheldon segment and a small two-track engine house and company offices were built there.
1989
The KB&S leased the Norfolk Southern (former Nickle Plate) trackage between Cheneyville, Illinois (north of Danville) and Templeton, Indiana, for two years on December 15, 1989. Conrail sold the Swanington-Sheldon (former New York Central) to KB&S in 1990 when they had basically no traffic on that segment.
1991
Then, in 1991, KB&S railroad purchased the line outright. As the larger connecting railroads continued their efforts to downsize, KB&S Railroad continued to grow, reaching 155 miles by 1995.
1997
While KB&S Railroad founder, Fey Orr was involved with his railroad, he left others to care of his lumber business. On July 16, 1997, he died at age 85. A 120 by 16 foot Memorial Mural appears on the Beaverville Grain and Lumber Company honoring the prominent businessman and philanthropist.