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Illinois Trolley Lines

This was another of those lines which never should have been built, but which lasted unusually long.

The name indicates the original plan of the promoters, to link the Fox and Illinois Rivers. But the line only succeeded in connecting Yorkville, on the Aurora Elgin & Fox River Electric Ry, and Morris, on the Chicago & Illinois Valley Ry. These lines also connected via the Aurora Plainfield & Joliet which served a more developed area.

The line was built in 1911 and was equipped with 2 combines and 1 freight motor. They were built by McGuire-Cummings and look as if they were inspired by the Illinois Traction System.

On February 3, 1931, passenger service ended. The cars remained until 1933 when they were scrapped. Freight motor 7 was equipped with a gas engine and the line continued under the ownership of the five grain elevators on the line. On February 20, 1938, total abandonment was authorized, but the final run was made on October 21, 1938.

Here are photos of the two passenger cars. They were MU equipped, but there was little chance for both of them to have to be operated as a train.

The freight motor found additional life when it was sold to the Colorado & Southeastern RR which was later renamed Colorado Railroad.

Freeport Ry. Light & Power Co.

Illinois Northern Utilities Co.

FRLP began service in 1903 and became INU in 1917.  It closed in 1933.

8.

Galesburg Ry Lighting & Power Co.

Illinois Power & Light Co.

7 was built by American Car Co in 1921, #1263.   It became Illinois Power & Light Co 7 in 1923 and transferred as Illinois Terminal RR 170 in 1932. The body became a yard office in the late 1930s and sold to Illinois Railway Museum in June 1957.

The Illinois Central Electric Ry.

There is an excellent site on the history of the line.

The first operation was a gas car.

3 was a gas motor car.

17 was built by American Car Co in October 1912, #954.

I have a full page on the electrified Chicago suburban service.

We have a full page on this operation.

Index.

Joliet Plainfield & Aurora RR

Joliet & Southern Traction Co.

Joliet & Eastern Traction Co.

Aurora Plainfield & Joliet Ry.

 I have a page on this group of lines which were under common ownership for 7 years.

Kankakee & Urbana Traction Co.

242 was built by St. Louis Car in 1924 as St Louis 600, demonstrator.  It was sold as K&UT 242 in 1924. It was purchased by Third Avenue Ry in 1930 and numbered 1702. It served for a short time and then was stored. After the Texas cars were put in service, it was rebuilt and became TARS 1250 on July 24, 1934. It was scrapped on July 6, 1948.

Lee County Central Electric Ry.

 I have a full page on this trolley line turned short line.

Midlothian & Blue Island RR

No number, was built by McGuire-Cummings Mfg in 1911.

North Chicago Street RR

8 was built  by John Stephenson Car Co in 1859.  It was retired about 1906 and was preserved by current transport company.  It was donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in 1985.

454.

598.

North Kankakee Electric Light & Ry. Co.

116 was built by McGuire-Cummings in 1917.  It was retired in 1932 and the body was acquired by Illinois Railway Museum in 2003.

Peoria Central Ry.

235.

Peoria Railway Terminal Co.

Peoria & Pekin Terminal Ry.

The Peoria & Pekin Terminal Railway Company began operating electric interurbans on December 14, 1899 from Hamilton and Adams Street in Peoria south to South Bartonville (where the company's office, shop and powerhouse was located). Service was extended to Pekin on April 3, 1900. The company went into receivership because of financial problems on October 17, 1906, and was reorganized on December 17, 1906 as the Peoria Railway Terminal Company and sold under foreclosure on February 9, 1907 to the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad and the Chicago & Alton Railroad. When the C&A went into bankruptcy on August 3, 1922, the CRI&P took over completely. Outside of street trackage in Peoria, freight service was operated strictly by steam locomotives. The last electric passenger train operated on August 31, 1924 due to the completion of a paved highway from Peoria to Bartonville and Pekin which greatly reduced patronage in favor of the automobile. Afterwards, the line became strictly a freight carrier (however there was a short lived limited steam passenger service to local coal mines before the supply was exhausted). The line continued to operate as a freight line under CRI&P ownership (strictly using CRI&P diesels after 1953) until the CRI&P failed in 1980, after which the C&NW was the high bidder for all remaining trackage in the Peoria area. The remaining Pekin freight trackage at the Corn Products Plant was purchased by the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway.

81 was built by McGuire-Cummings Co.

We have a full page on this line. .

I have a full page on this abandoned steam and trolley operated railroad.

South Side Elevated RR

54 was built by Baldwin in March 1892, #12563.  It was purchased by The Milwaukee Electric Ry & Light Co with no number for construction at Lakeside Power Plant.  It was displayed for many years but scrapped in 1950 in the Korea War.

Springfield Consolidated Ry.

Illinois Power Co.

Springfield Transportation Co.

81 was built by American Car Co in 1902, #427.  I have had this picture from the early 1950s as Lawrence Electric Ry.  I have never found Lawrence Electric Ry.  Recently I got the American Car builders but the name on the car did not look right.  I looked at a map and found Route 1 was Lawrence-North 9th. 

253 was built by St Louis Car Co in 1920, #1234.  It became Illinois Power Co 253 in 1921 and became Springfield Transportation Co 253 in 1933.  It was sold as Marion Rys 22 in October 1937 and scrapped in 1947.

255 was built by St Louis Car Co in 1920, #1234.  It became IPCo 255 in 1921 and became STCo 255 in 1933.  It was sold as MRys 21 in October 1937 and scrapped in 1947.

100, S2M, was built by Alco and converted to straight electric operation.

There is further information on the Illinois Industrial Railroad page.

Walworth Valve Co.

This narrow gauge locomotive was preserved in the front yard of a former employee.

WebWork by rinity echnology Co.

AMDG

5/17/2021

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Memorial of Saint Adrione of Alexandria

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Choose Life.

Mom did.