Update RR Story

Update Railroad Story

Story Name

Railroad

Current Railroad

Valuation Section(s)

Subdivision(s)

State

South/West Terminal

North/East Terminal

Description

Text HTML5

In the late 19th Century, electric interurban railways became popular 
throughout the United States, particularly in suburban and rural areas.&nbsp;
 In rural areas, the interurban represented a reliable form of 
transportation, independent of the steam railroads.&nbsp; The Illinois Valley Traction Company constructed 24 miles of interurban railroad, extending from Ottawa, Illinois to Ladd, Illinois in 1902.&nbsp; In 1903, the Ottawa Marseilles &amp; Morris River Railway constructed seven miles between Ottawa and Marseilles.&nbsp; The two railroads were reorganized as the Illinois Valley Railway Company (IVR) in 1904, which constructed 15 additional miles to Princeton in 1905 and 5 miles from Marseilles to Seneca in 1906.&nbsp; An additional four miles to Spring Valley were completed in 1907.&nbsp; In 1907, the IVR was leased to the Chicago, Ottawa &amp; Peoria Railway, which continued to expand the system.&nbsp; In 1909, an extension from Ottawa to Streator was constructed; followed by an extension from Seneca to Morris the following year.&nbsp; By 1912, the line would be completed to Joliet, giving the system a total length of 107 miles. In 1922, the railroad would become part of the Illinois Traction System (ITC), a large network of interurban lines throughout central Illinois.&nbsp; The former CO&amp;P would become known as the Illinois Valley Division.&nbsp; The ITC sought the railroad as a way to connect the system with Chicago.&nbsp; Proposals were mulled, including extending the Streator Line south to Bloomington.&nbsp; During the 1920s, interurbans throughout the United States became obsolete with the advent of the personal automobile.&nbsp; The Spring Valley to Ladd branch was abandoned in 1923, followed by the Streator Branch in 1928 and the DePue to Princeton section in 1929.&nbsp; The entire system would be shut down and removed in 1934.&nbsp; Today, traces of the system can be found in the form of grading and bridge piers.

Manage RR Stories

Update RR Story

Update Railroad Story

Text HTML5