Palatine, Lake Zurich and Wauconda Railroad

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The Palatine, Lake Zurich and Wauconda Railroad (PLZ&W) was an 11 mile short-line railroad built to connect Palatine, Illinois to Lake Zurich and Wauconda.

Justin Orvis and Robert Wynn were the orginators of this railroad. They originally envisioned a 75 mile electric route throughout Lake and McHenry counties, but this was the only stretch developed. The route delivered freight and commuters to these communities. The railroad had many problems due to secondhand equipment and the steep trestle built to cross the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern in Lake Zurich. The most famous engine on this route was nicknamed 'Old Maud' and was purchased from the Chicago and North Western Railway.

The railroad opened in 25 August 1912 and closed in 1924. The improvement of Rand Road (Route 12) and the rise of the automobile helped bring down this route.

Richard Whitney researched the railroad for 30 years and wrote the book Old Maud.