Sorry, I know I am a copy cat, but I can’t let this type of thread die.
This Illinois town once had an Interurban, four class one railroads, and two short lines serving it. One of the shortlines may have been bought by GM&O, or a GM&O predecessor.
One of the Class One’s serving it went through two name changes before it was abandon. One Class One serving it went through three name changes and is still serving it. One Class One serving it went through three name changes and is still serving it. Most people don’t know about the Interurban.
Can’t be Pontiac. The interurban ended in front of my parents home, as close to Bloomington it ever got. And only the Wabash, IC, and Alton went through, a total of 3, no short lines.
Streator could have had an interurban, along with NYC, Wabash, CB&Q (2 lines), ATSF, and Alton, still missing one, unless the CB&Q counts as two short lines.
I will give some hints: As of 1965 most of the lines were still there. One of the short lines had gone long before that. Very few people realize this city was served by an interurban.
If I gave the name of one railroad, it would be a dead give away. If I gave the name of the railroad who bought the last short line (which was pulled in the late 60s), it would also be a dead give away.
Both shortlines had the name of the town/city in their names. Today, I would imagine the town sees between 50 and 60 trains a day.
Here is a hint, the two railroads that still service this town recently built a connection in the town for the first time and this cross over track is used regularly.
I’d like to say Danville or Decatur, but I can’t think of any shortlines with Danville in there names and only one with Decatur. Unless I’m missing something that is.
You are right in that Danville and Decatur are wrong.
Here is another hint, it is possible–but I don’t think so–that the CNW may have served this town via one of the shortlines. Given your name, I think you will now nail this.
Litchfield is currently served by BNSF and NS in two very busy lines. NS recently acquired trackage rights over BNSF to reach its old Nickle Platte line, which serves the Coffeen Power Plant.
As late as the late 60s, the Burlington, Wabash, Illinois Central all had major routes through Litchfield. The NYC had a minor branch line cutting accross these three lines. The Litchfield and Madions also served the town until about 1970, which was then bought by the CNW. I know the CNW served Mt. Olive, which is one town south of Litchfield, but I don’t know if it actually served Litchfield, and do not think it did.
The two wild cards are the Illinois Terminal and the other short line. The IT served the city I think until the late 40s. It had a branch line that went from Stauton, to Mt. Olive, to Litchfield, and terminated in Hilsboro. It was pulled out at an early date though.
Also, it was served north of the city by the Litchfield and Carolton. Which I was eventually bought by the Alton or GM&O. I don’t know if the GM&O actually ran trains into the town though.
There has been recent talk of putting in a 9-mile spur near Litchfield to serve a landfill.
Have stopped at Litchfield often on trips to St. Louis. Noticed the last couple times that BNSF’s line had been upgraded, and saw a southbound unit coal train while driving over it on I-55. Also overtook a northbound on NS for the short distance it parallels I-55 north of Litchfield. Had CSX engines pulling it.