NS Wood River Bridge

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, and the ITC began purchasing railroads in 1899.  McKinley incorporated the Decatur, Springfield & St. Louis Railway (DS&StL) in 1903, intended to connect the namesake cities.  The Decatur Street Railway & Light Company was purchased the same year, which operated a system of streetcars in Decatur, and had been constructed during the 1890s.  Between Springfield and Decatur, a defunct right-of-way was purchased.  The line to Springfield opened to traffic in 1904. 

The DS&StL was renamed the St. Louis & Springfield Railway (StL&S) in 1903, and a second subsidiary, the St. Louis North Eastern Railway (StLNE) was created the same year.  The railroad opened to East St. Louis in 1906, utilizing the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) to reach St. Louis.  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.  Much of the route paralleled existing railroad lines, particularly between Decatur and Springfield.  Branch lines were later constructed to mines near Hillsboro, as well as into Alton, Edwardsville, and Mechanicsburg.  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 ITC would be acquired by nine larger railroads in 1956, with most of the system abandoned.  The ITC continued to operate trackage in the St. Louis area, while other portions of the system were reused by freight railroads.  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.  Short segments near Alton and East St. Louis continue to be used by Norfolk Southern, as well as a short section near Illiopolis.