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Story Name

Railroad

Current Railroad

Valuation Section(s)

Subdivision(s)

State

South/West Terminal

North/East Terminal

Description

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In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, interurban railroads began to develop throughout the United States.&nbsp; These electrified railroads were intended to provide efficient passenger service, generally to suburban or rural areas.&nbsp; At the same time, electrified street railways began to develop in larger cities throughout the United States.&nbsp; These trolleys provided service to passengers, primarily in urban areas.&nbsp; Champaign businessman William B. McKinley sought to join these two modes of transportation. McKinley desired to construct electrified railroad connecting major cities in central Illinois.&nbsp; The Illinois Traction System (ITC) was formed to develop this network, and the ITC began purchasing railroads in 1899.&nbsp; McKinley incorporated the Decatur, Springfield &amp; St. Louis Railway (DS&amp;StL) in 1903, intended to connect the namesake cities.&nbsp; The Decatur Street Railway &amp; Light Company was purchased the same year, which operated a system of streetcars in Decatur, and had been constructed during the 1890s.&nbsp; Between Springfield and Decatur, a defunct right-of-way was purchased.&nbsp; The line to Springfield opened to traffic in 1904.&nbsp; The DS&amp;StL was renamed the St. Louis &amp; Springfield Railway (StL&amp;S) in 1903, and a second subsidiary, the St. Louis North Eastern Railway (StLNE) was created the same year.&nbsp; The railroad opened to East St. Louis in 1906, utilizing the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) to reach St. Louis.&nbsp; A bridge across the Mississippi River to reach St. Louis was completed by subsidiary St. Louis Electric Traction Railway in 1910, completing the western portion of the route.&nbsp; Much of the route paralleled existing railroad lines, particularly between Decatur and Springfield.&nbsp; Branch lines were later constructed to mines near Hillsboro, as well as into Alton, Edwardsville, and Mechanicsburg.&nbsp; The ITC saw unprecedented freight success along the system, and became the largest and most profitable interurban system in the United States.&nbsp; During the early and mid-20th Century, interurbans fell out of favor with the introduction of the automobile.&nbsp; In 1937, the railroad would be reorganized as the Illinois Terminal Railway.&nbsp; The railroad remained profitable long after many other interurbans had been abandoned.&nbsp; Post-World War II, the railroad remained profitable, comparable to regional sized railroads in the midwest.&nbsp; The ITC would be acquired by nine larger railroads in 1956, with most of the system abandoned.&nbsp; The ITC continued to operate trackage in the St. Louis area, while other portions of the system were reused by freight railroads.&nbsp; The ITC would become part of the Norfolk &amp; Western Railway in 1982, which immediately became part of the Norfolk Southern Railway.&nbsp; Today, much of the ITC system has been abandoned.&nbsp; Short segments near Alton and East St. Louis continue to be used by Norfolk Southern, as well as a short section near Illiopolis.&nbsp;

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