770 ILCS 55/1
All persons who may have furnished or who shall hereafter furnish to any railroad corporation now existing or hereafter to be organized under the laws of this State, any fuel, ties, material, supplies, or other article or thing necessary for the construction, maintenance, operation or repair of such roads, by contract with said corporation, or who shall have done and performed or shall hereafter do and perform any work or labor for such construction, maintenance, operation or repair by like contract, shall be entitled to be paid for the same as part of the current expenses of said road; and in order to secure the same, shall have a lien upon all the property, real, personal and mixed, of said railroad corporation as against such railroad, and as against all mortgages or other liens which shall accrue after the commencement of the delivery of said articles, or the commencement of said work or labor; provided, suit shall be commenced within 6 months after such contractor or laborer shall have completed his contract with said railroad corporation, or after such labor shall have been performed or material furnished.
770 ILCS 55/1