As a boy in a rural Southern Illinois, the local IC branchline provided daily entertainment. The line ran from Mattoon, Il to Evansville, In and during the 1960’s provided two trains daily (one each way) with only one per day on Saturday and Sunday. The trains handled local work in addition to substancial interchange to and from L&N at Evansville.
During the spring, summer, and fall the local would drop off cars of limestone at a team track siding for a couple of farm supply operators. Over the years, the trains became an attraction as it switched and I was able to watch the switching and talk to the crews. I became quite knowledgeable of the line and the operations.
Often during the fall months, one of the locals would run at night, no doubt due to increased grain handling. If sleeping, I would awaken, look out my window and note the passage of the train, then return to sleep.
One night I was awaken by the horn of a northbound train. Looking out my window, I noted the passage of an unusual train. Even in the darkness, it was obvious this was a passenger train. The passenger car windows provided a strange sight, blinds closed, but illuminating an outline of light. The outline of the low slung passenger cars were an unusal contrast to the usual boxcars, hoppers, and tank cars. What did I see?
The next morning my father listened, but was skeptical. Certainly you must have been dreaming and mom concurred. Neither was awakened during the night.
It wasnt a dream. The vision of that train always intrigued me. Earlier this decade I joined a web group which was devoted to the history of the now abandoned PD&E (Peoria, Danville, and Evansville) line. A busy month might yield 10 postings. However, the group had a number of resources and members who were knowledgeable of the lin