sentences:  On November 8, 1838, the first railroad steam locomotive ever operated in Illinois transported a select group to what was then the end-of-track, eight miles east near Chapin, IL, and back to Meredosia.The locomotive was called the "Rogers" and was made in Newark, New Jersey, by the firm of Rogers, Ketchum and Grosvenor.For nearly 10 years, the growing Northern Cross Railroad was operated by the State of Illinois.