BLACKHAWK RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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The Railroads of Will County

Interurban Railroads

By 1880, the concept of rural electric railroads connecting cities and towns had emerged across the United States.  Electric railroads were not built for pioneer immigration purposes as the original steam railroads were, but to serve densely populated districts where a demand existed for additional transportation facilities.  Known as interurban lines, these railroads often used private rights-of-way, but more frequently were placed along exiting highways.  Although two recessions eventually halted their development, dozens of interurban lines were built throughout the Midwest. 

Most lines ran from ten to forty miles, providing more frequent service than competing steam railroads, although at lower overall speed.  Most used 600-volt direct current electricity from overhead wires.  Interurban cars were constructed of wood, but later cars were constructed of steel.  Interurban line construction ran as much as $10,000 per mile to construct, and most companies used a single track as traffic rarely required double track.  Relatively sharp curves and various municipal limitations usually restricted interurban freight operations, making passenger earnings essential. 

By as early as the 1920s and going into the early 1930s, increasing development of paved roads and the use of the automobile, political apathy toward the traction companies, and a rapidly declining physical plant all combined to push almost all of the interurbans out of business.   A few hung on after the end of the "Interurban Era" either because of their utility as commuter carriers, or they had enough freight traffic to survive without passengers. 


All of the interurbans that traversed Will County were abandoned and very few clues to their existence remain today.


​Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway
  
  • Began service between Chicago and Joliet on September 25, 1901
  • Opened Dellwood Park in Lockport as a recreational destination in 1907
  • Discontinued service on November 16, 1933.
Picture
Picture


Chicago and Southern Traction Co./ 
  Chicago and Interurban Traction Co. 
  • Began service between Chicago and Kankakee on
    October 5, 1907
  • Discontinued service on April 23, 1927
Picture
Picture
View of downtown Harvey, IL in April 1923 at the intersection of 154th St and Park Ave. with the Illinois Central and its Harvey station to the left and to the right, a southbound Chicago & Interurban Traction car.


​Chicago, Ottawa & Peoria/
  Illinois Traction System - Illinois Valley Division/
  Chicago & Illinois Valley Railway
  • ​Began service between Joliet and Princeton on December 11, 1911
  • Discontinued service on May 14, 1934
Picture
CO&P depot/substation in Minooka, IL


​Joliet, Plainfield & Aurora Railway/
  Aurora, Plainfield & Joliet Railway
  • Began service between Joliet and Aurora on
    ​October 24, 1904
  • Opened Electric Park in Plainfield as a recreational destination in 1905
  • ​Discontinued service on September 1, 1924 ​
Picture


​Joliet & Southern Traction Co./
​  Joliet & Eastern Traction Co.
  • Began service between Joliet and Chicago Heights on May 29, 1909
  • Discontinued service on April 15, 1922
Picture
Picture

< Proposed Railroads
Contents © 2022 Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. - an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.  
The Blackhawk Railway Historical Society, Inc. is a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society  and  is not affiliated with the former Blackhawk Films or the ​Chicago franchise of the National Hockey League.  

Contact Us

  • Home
  • Schedule
  • About Us
    • Join Us
    • Newsletter
    • Meetings
    • Chicago Railroad History Month
    • Indiana Swap Meet and Program
    • 50th Anniversary Gallery
    • The Railroads of Will County >
      • Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
      • Chicago & Alton
      • Chicago & Eastern Illinois
      • Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
      • Elgin, Joliet & Eastern
      • Illinois Central
      • Michigan Central
      • The Milwaukee Road (CM&G/CTH&SE)
      • Wabash
      • Shortlines and Industrials
      • Proposed Railroads
      • Interurban Railroads
  • Projects
    • Chicago Railroad History Month
    • Depots >
      • Joliet >
        • History
        • Passenger
        • Railfan
        • UD Tower
      • Symerton
      • Lockport
    • Museums
    • Publications and Documents >
      • EJ&E Documents
    • Community
    • Equipment
  • Connections
    • Railroad History Partners
    • Local Railroad Attractions
    • Regional Museums & Heritage Railroads
    • Model and Garden Railroading
    • Operating Steam Locomotives
    • Today's Railroads >
      • Regional, Short Line and Industrial Railroads
    • Santa Trains
  • Store