Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad facts for kids
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The Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad (CP&StL) was an important railroad company in Illinois, USA. It ran a main line connecting Pekin (near Peoria) and Madison (near St. Louis), passing through Springfield. The company faced money problems and its property was sold off in the 1920s. Today, parts of its old lines are used by other railroads, like the Illinois and Midland Railroad and the Norfolk Southern Railway. Other parts are no longer used.
Contents
How the Railroad Started
The story of the CP&StL began with an older railroad called the Illinois River Railroad. This company was created in 1853 to build a line from Jacksonville to La Salle. By 1859, a section of this line was open, running from Virginia to Pekin.
Because of financial difficulties, the Illinois River Railroad was sold in 1864. A new company, the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad, bought it. This new company then bought another line from Pekin to Peoria in 1868. It also extended its own line southwest to Jacksonville in 1869. Later, the section between Pekin and Peoria was sold to a different company that managed railroad yards in those cities.
Connecting Springfield and Beyond
Another important line that became part of the CP&StL was the Springfield and Northwestern Railroad. This company was formed in 1869 to build a line from Springfield north to Rock Island. By 1874, the line was finished from Springfield to Havana. To reach Peoria from Havana, trains used the tracks of the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad.
At first, the Springfield and Northwestern Railroad was leased to another company. But this lease ended in 1875, and the railroad was reorganized as the Springfield and Northwestern Railway in 1878.
Joining Forces: The Jacksonville Southeastern Line
In 1881, both the Jacksonville-Pekin and Springfield-Havana lines were bought by the Toledo, Wabash and Western Railway (Wabash). However, the Wabash also ran into financial trouble. So, in 1888, these lines were sold again to a new company called the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railway. This company was part of a larger system known as the Jacksonville Southeastern Railway.
The Jacksonville Southeastern Railway soon created a larger network called the "Jacksonville Southeastern Line". This network grew by leasing other lines and building new ones. A key addition was a line built by the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis from Litchfield southwest to Madison, which is close to East St. Louis. This connection to East St. Louis was completed in November 1890.
By December 1890, the company started a special passenger service. Working with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, they offered direct Pullman car (sleeping car) service between Chicago and St. Louis.
Changes and New Connections
The large railroad system was broken up in 1893 due to financial problems. The Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railway was reorganized in 1896 as the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad of Illinois. This left it with its original lines from Pekin to Jacksonville and Springfield, plus a separate line between Litchfield and Madison.
To connect its lines, the CP&StL had to use other railroads' tracks. It used lines from Springfield to Litchfield via Jacksonville. A few years later, the CP&StL bought a railroad known as the "Bluff Line" to get a direct connection to St. Louis. It also sold off its Litchfield-Madison line.
The Bluff Line Story
The "Bluff Line" started as the St. Louis, Jerseyville and Springfield Railroad in 1880. It aimed to build a line from Springfield to the Mississippi River near Grafton. This line was completed in 1882, running from Bates (west of Springfield) through Jerseyville to Dow. From Dow, it went down to the Mississippi River and followed the riverbank to Grafton.
This line went through several changes and reorganizations. It became the St. Louis, Alton and Springfield Railroad in 1888. This company built a branch from Dow to Alton in 1889. Later, in 1892, it became the St. Louis, Chicago and St. Paul Railroad. This company built a direct route into Springfield and extended its line from Alton to Granite City in 1894.
Finally, in March 1900, the Bluff Line officially joined the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railway of Illinois. At the same time, the Litchfield-Madison line was separated and became the Litchfield and Madison Railway. The CP&StL continued to operate this line under a lease until 1904.
The Final Years
After all these changes, the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railway of Illinois had a main line from Pekin to Granite City/Madison, with branches to Jacksonville and Grafton. However, the company continued to struggle financially.
The very last company to use the name, the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad, was formed in December 1909. It took over the property in 1913. The railroad continued to operate until November 1924. At that time, its property was sold off in parts to four different companies:
- The Alton and Eastern Railroad bought the line from Granite City to Grafton. This part is now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
- The Chicago, Springfield and St. Louis Railway bought the line from Lockhaven to Springfield. This line was later abandoned.
- The Springfield, Havana and Peoria Railroad bought the line from Springfield to Pekin. This part is now used by the Illinois and Midland Railroad.
- The Jacksonville and Havana Railroad bought the line from Jacksonville to Havana. This line was also later abandoned.
