Does anyone know of any books or pictures of the Peabody Shortline. I am looking for pictures of the cabooses they had.
Not even Google turned up any information about Peabody Short Line except their hoppers. Hoppers may be the only thing Peabody owned. Nearly all references I could find to Peabody were centered around Illinois Traction Historical Societies.
The only thing I found was that they were bought by Illinois Central in 1960. Maybe that could be a starting point for your research.
There is an article about the line in Trains Magazine about the time it was sold to IC. Check the Trains database.
Try this…
http://www.lepeabody.com/index.html
I sent an e-mail to the IC historical association and got this excellent response…
Capt. Carrales,
The following is a quote from Al Lind’s great book, From the lakes to the Gulf: A hHstory of the Illinois Central Railroad.
“The Peabody Short Line began life as the St. Louis & Belleville Electiric Railway (B&E), an electric suburban line serving the East St. Louis, Illinois area. Though offering passenger service in its early years it was principally a freight hauling railroad. Affiliated with the East St. Louis & Suburban Railway, the StL&B (B&E) came under the control of the Union Electric Company of St. Louis. It sold the line to the Peabody Coal Company in 1956. Nearly all the PSL’s traffic was coal moving from the River King mine near Belleville, Illinois to the terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis at East St. Louis, Illinois.
In 1960 the Illinois Central took control of the PSL. It merged into the IC on August 1, 1961.”
Since that time, probably by the late 60s or early 70s the IC abandoned the line.
Thank you for visiting our website.
A. B. Mifflin
Associate Editor and Art Director
Green Diamond, official quarterly publication of the Illinois Central Historical Society
501 Lexington Court
Carbondale, IL 62901
618-529-3837
ab13@hcis.net
I too am interested in finding info on the Peabody Short Line. I grew up in the Edgemont Area of East St Louis, IL. Right below the River Bluffs. The old Peabody Short Line ran by my house as it started up the grade into the bluffs. I used to look out my upstairs bedroom window and watch the trains. Some of my fondest memories are of hearing the lonely train whistle on rainy mornings. I also found hopper cars on the Web. But I clearly remember seeing Locomotives painted bright yellow with green trim. Since I am a Switchman with the A&S in East St Louis now, I’ll see if I can find some info/resources thru local channels.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-p/pbcc-fm-ags.jpg
is peabody Short line same as peabody coal??
jiheiz, have the 1960 issue of trains that has the article on the peabody shortline. i picked up the copy about 6 years ago at a model train flea market at michigan state university’s ag expo… i could mail you a photo copy of the article.
jiheiz, have the 1960 issue of trains that has the article on the peabody shortline. i picked up the copy about 6 years ago at a model train flea market at michigan state university’s ag expo… i could mail you a photo copy of the article.
What loco type is that please?
Looking at the back end (end of long hood) are those fans displaced or would they have been in that angled position in operation?
Thanks for help [8D]
looks like a FM Trainmaster…
Jim
well is peabody coal peabodyy short line???
I used to live a block away from the Peabody Shortline tracks in Belleville, IL. They ran ALCO RS’s usually in sets of 2 or 3 engines. The engines were painted in the same color scheme as the hoppers. I do not recall anything about the cabeese. The Shortline was owned by Peabody Coal.
It seems like there is a railroad historical society which covers the lines which coursed through that area. The owner of RED BOARD Hobby in Belleville, IL is probably a good resource to contact for information on the society.
My grandfather used to work for Peabody Coal near Carrier Mills, IL.
I’m pretty sure that the Peabody locos on the Fallen Flags site are various mine switchers. Although also owned by Peabody, I think these shots are unrelated to the PSL, although ultimately owned by the same company.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I was talking to one of the older engineers at work last night (Alton & Southern Railway). He said that the Peabody Shortline crossed Our tracks in East St Louis between State Street and Lake Shore Drive. And after the I.C. bought them, they worked through the Gateway Yard next to mine that is currently ran by the KCS. Anyway, they did indeed buy and run three Locomotives. They were ALCO’s. And to answer the other question, The Peabody Short Line was owned by the Peabody Coal Mine until the Illinois Central bought the line.
I lived in Edgemont on South 83rd St. The Day Line tracks as I remember them called, ran at the end of my street and seperated Edgemont from Centerville. From there they crossed Hwy 157 over a trestle (I used to play there) and climbed into the Bluffs up into Signal Hill. Where abouts did you live?
Here is a link to a cover photo of a 1960 issue of Trains Magazine showing the Peabody Alcos in action.
usmcgunny0369
I lived off of 59th street in Belleville. It is now called Frank Scott Parkway.
I often played at the trestle over the Southern tracks.
Go Maroons!
This is what I remeber them to have looked like.