Interurban Railroads

The Railroads of Will County

Interurban Railroads

By 1880, the concept of rural electric railroads connecting cities and towns had emerged across muck of 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, 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 the early 1930s, increasing automobile competition, politcal apathy, and a rapidly declining physical plant all combined to push the interurbans out of business.