The first railroad reached Beloit from Chicago, by way of Belvidere, built by the Chicago and Galena company; the branch from Belvidere was completed by November, 1853.

The evidence

• “The-termini of four different railroads are found at this town. In November, 1853, the first railroad reached us from Chicago, by way of Belvidere, which was built by the Chicago and Galena company. Another company, called the Beloit and Madison company, are engaged in the construction of a road to Madison, which is now open to Footeville.”

  1856-history-of-rock-county/06-beloit.md, PDF p. 79 / book p. 61

  Guernsey, Orrin, and Josiah F. Willard, editors. History of Rock County, and Transactions of the Rock County Agricultural Society and Mechanics' Institute. Janesville, Wis.: William M. Doty & Brother, 1856. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871593.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources