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<p>In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, interurban railroads began to develop throughout the United States. These electrified railroads were intended to provide efficient passenger service, generally to suburban or rural areas. At the same time, electrified street railways began to develop in larger cities throughout the United States. These trolleys provided service to passengers, primarily in urban areas. 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. The Illinois Traction System (ITC) was formed to develop this network. In 1905, subsidiariy Chicago, Bloomington & Decatur (CB&D) was created to construct a line between Decatur, Illinois and Bloomington, Illinois, and the line was completed in 1906. Between 1906 and 1907, subsidiary Peoria, Bloomington & Champaign Traction (PB&C) constructed a line between Bloomington and Peoria, Illinois, and the Peoria, Lincoln & Springfield Traction (PL&ST) constructed a line between Lincoln, Illinois and Mackinaw, Illinois; which opened in early 1908. The three railroads were later fully incorporated into the ITC.<br></p>The ITC saw unprecedented freight success along the system, and became the largest and most profitable interurban system in the United States. During the early and mid-20th Century, interurbans fell out of favor with the introduction of the automobile. In 1937, the railroad would be reorganized as the Illinois Terminal Railway. The railroad remained profitable long after many other interurbans had been abandoned. Post-World War II, the railroad remained profitable, comparable to regional sized railroads in the midwest. The IT would be acquired by nine larger railroads in 1956, with most of the system abandoned. Portions of this line remained in service through the 1970s. The ITC would become part of the Norfolk & Western Railway in 1982, which immediately became part of the Norfolk Southern Railway. Today, much of the ITC system has been abandoned, as has this line.<br><p></p>
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