The Chicago Southern was incorporated in 1904 by John R. Walsh to build part of a Chicago Illinois to Terre Haute Indiana line. Twelve 2-6-0 eight 4-4-0 and twenty 4-6-0 locomotives were ordered from the Rogers works of the American Locomotive Company in Paterson New Jersey. The first six 4-6-0’s were delivered in August 1905. The remaining fourteen were held mostly complete by the builder because the railroad entered bankruptcy.