The Champaign, Havana & Western Railway group is primarily intended for those interested in the history and preservation of the CH&W Ry of 1879, its predecessors, and successors. Until such time as a permanent website is constructed, it shall also serve as the defacto website of the Champaign, Havana & Western Railway Historical Society.

The CH&W Ry of 1879 was composed of rail lines from two predecessor roads - the Monticello Railroad (Champaign, Illinois, through Monticello, to Decatur) and the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln & Eastern Railroad (a route through the named towns to a connection with the MRR at White Heath, Illinois). For the first 30 years of its existence, the CH&W Ry of 1879 and its predecessor roads were a study in railroad bankrupcies and foreclosures. It was not until 1888 that the financial future of the lines stablized upon inclusion into the Illinois Central Railroad's system. For a more concise history of the CH&W Railway of 1879, see the documents under the History folder in Files.

The Historical Society is a relatively new organization. It was incorporated on 1 May 2009 (see documents under the Historical Society folder in Files). The Society's objective is to, as much as is practical, promote the preservation of as much of the CH&W Ry of 1879 that remains and to research and present its history for the education of the public. The remaining rights-of-way are habitat to an interesting variety of plants and animals which were once plentiful across Central Illinois. See the Articles of Incorporation under the Historical Society folder in Files for a more detailed statement of the purposes for which the Society was founded.

Memberships in the Society are gladly accepted. See membership section in the Bylaws for membership classes and rates.