I want to thank Ed from Dundas for your reply. I was born in Olney and still have family in Flora. I worked for the BN out of Aurora and Cicero. and live in Sugar Grove. I meant to ask anyone out there if they know where the branch line that ran through Iola . Illinois went to? Thanks for any info. John
Got a little more info for you. The line branch thru Iola was part of the Flora - Beardstown branchline. If you look at a satellite view, such as Google, you can still see the ROW path stretching from Iola to Louisville (Lewis ville not Looal ville as you know having been down there).
I pulled my Dec 1946 Official Guide. The B&O shows servcie daily from Flora, leaving at 530am to Beardstown (1110am), with return trip at 345pm with arrival at 915. The service is shown as “Motor”…I am not sure what that meant (bus?).
Back to the branchline, it passed thru Edgewood, crossing the IC where there was a tower, proceeded to Altamont, then Pana, Taylorville and Springfield before terminating at Beardstown.
Not much more I can help you out with. So, you were born at Richmond Memorial Hospital?
Ed
“Motor” was probably a doodlebug or some such.
Is this the line that continued south to Shawneetown?
Yes…the line ran from Shawneetown through Flora & Springfield to Beardstown, IL