Illinois Terminal Railroad

Illinois Terminal Railroad
1913-1985 Champaign, Illinois headquarters of the ITS, the ITR and then Illinois Power and Light
Overview
HeadquartersSt. Louis, Missouri
Reporting markITC
LocaleCentral Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri
Dates of operation1896–1982
SuccessorNorfolk and Western Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 3,300 V AC (1907–c. 1910)
650 V DC (c. 1910–1958)

The Illinois Terminal Railroad Company (reporting mark ITC), known as the Illinois Traction System until 1937, was a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern Illinois from 1896 to 1956. When Depression era Illinois Traction was in financial distress and had to reorganize, the Illinois Terminal name was adopted to reflect the line's primary money making role as a freight interchange link to major steam railroads at its terminal ends, Peoria, Danville, and St. Louis. Interurban passenger service slowly was reduced, ending in 1956. Freight operation continued but was hobbled by tight street running in some towns requiring very sharp radius turns. In 1956, ITC was absorbed by a consortium of connecting railroads.