Illinois Terminal, A Traction Time Machine

Step back to the 1930s-1950s to experience one of the largest interurban railroads in the country. Originally known as the Illinois Traction System, the Illinois Terminal Railroad was a significant provider of passenger and freight service for central Illinois, with Springfield as its hub. Now, through this fascinating collection of vintage color and black and white films and photographs you can revisit the Illinois Terminal during the height of its career. The Illinois Terminal lasted into the 1980s, but is gone now, this is the best way to see this traction gem.

The full range of Illinois Terminal passenger equipment is displayed here, from the trademark IT “traction orange” arch window cars as well as the blue arch window cars to blue-and-silver streamliners, PCC cars, and even the Alto-to-Grafton Railbus. A wide array of freight power is also highlighted, such as center cabs and streamlined class B freight motors. Scenes of passenger and freight action are captured from St. Louis, to Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria, and many other locations along the Illinois Terminal route.

You’ll enjoy great shots of street running with cars negotiating sharp curves, fast running on elevated tracks, trackside views taken in towns, cities and along the open countryside, action on the Lake Decatur and McKinley Bridges, and lots of fantastic cab rides. There are many insider scenes as well, such as crews changing trains, rides inside the cars, cabooses on the ends of freight trains, a conductor at work, the Railbus being turned on a turntable, a new streamlined freight motor being rolled out, freights exchanging with steam railroads, the Springfield yard, railfan excursions, the last run of an older traction car, and many other special images that round out this amazing story of an iconic interurban electric railroad!