The Lexington and Ohio Railroad Company was incorporated in 1830 by a legislative charter setting its course as being from Lexington to one or more points on the Ohio River. The city of Louisville lobbied to be chosen as the western terminus of the line and raised funds for the railroad through private subscription and special tax levies. In 1831 excavation and construction began on the line. The Lexington and Ohio greeted its first, brief run (one and one-half miles) with fanfare in 1832, but did not reach Frankfort until 1834. Work on the western division culminated in a line established between Portland and Louisville in 1838, but financial stresses forced the Lexington and Ohio out of operation the next year. Bankrupt in 1841, the railroad was bought by the state. The Commonwealth leased the line to Philip Swigert and William R. McKee, who ran it successfully for several years. Legal questions brought the state in as a partner in the enterprise in 1848. The previous year a new company, the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad, was chartered. Construction on the line between those cities was completed between 1849 and 1851. In 1858 the two lines and companies were consolidated and the long desired route from Lexington to Louisville was accomplished. The line ultimately became the Louisville, Cincinnati, and Lexington Railroad and was later absorbed into the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
From the description of Lexington and Ohio Rail Road Company records, [1832?]-[1845?]. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 42369481
