Interurban History
Illinois Terminal. The name was changed from Intermodal Transportation Center to something that reflected the history
of transportation in the Champaign-Urbana area.
The new name isn't really so new. Illinois Terminal had been associated with public transportation
locally until 1956. It was the company name for the Interurban rail service which was operated from
Danville to St. Louis and Peoria. It also was the company that operated a local trolley system until 1936.
Interurban at Hill and Neil in D.T. ChampaignThe history of the Illinois Terminal and public transportation
in C-U goes back even further than the name. In 1863 a group of businessmen wanted to connect Urbana
to the Illinois Central Railroad in Champaign. They created the Urbana Railway Company. It was operated
with horse or mule drawn trolleys. The first passenger on the trolley line, Dr. Charles B. Taylor,
took his ride, August 15, 1863. The young boy was able to make the trip because his father,
Reese Taylor, was the conductor.
The first horse drawn trolley trip connected Main and Market Streets (now Broadway) in Urbana with
the Depot, which was the famous Doane House in Champaign. The Depot was located at Main Street and the
I.C. tracks. Records state that "A German named Fritz guided the horse and mule that pulled the coach
and when he said "Giddyap" it was a momentous occasion. The trolley usually made seven trips a day and
although the company hired the conductor, the driver provided the horsepower.
In 1890 William B. McKinley, founder of the Illinois Power Company, directed the creation of an electrified
trolley system in Champaign. It is worth noting that over 100 years ago Champaign was already on the
"cutting edge" of transportation technology. The electrified trolley system was built just 2 years after
Frank Sprague had perfected the electric railroad in Richmond, Virginia.
One of Champaign's last trolleysAt its peak, the trolley system provided service all over Champaign and
Urbana. There were as many as 20 routes operating, including "Owl Service" which linked the cities through
the night. There was also a trolley that carried passengers to what was then known as West End Park
(now Eisner Park). The amusement park featured carnival rides, including a roller coaster which was located
along what is now Russel Street. There was also a casino, theater and refreshment booths. Admission to
the park was free for anyone who rode to it on the trolley.
Driving the street cars was an adventure. In a story which appeared in the Champaign-Urbana Courier on
December 22, 1968, Roy Crouse related some of his stories. He said that drivers were paid 40ยข an hour.
He also said that on Friday and Saturday they would carry about 800 passengers between the hours of 3:00
p.m. and midnight. "For many persons who ride the streetcars, the experience was probably akin to a magical
carnival ride, bell clanging and creeping along at 10 miles an hour, watching the city go by from tracks in
the middle of the street.
The last street car to operate in C-U made its final trip on November 10, 1936. Dr. Taylor was also passenger
on that day. The National City Lines had purchased the system from Illinois Power and Light Company for
$53,000 the previous October.
McKinley was also responsible for creating the Illinois Terminal Interurban system. Initially, he built a
small railroad to supply coal from the Georgetown and Ridgefarm areas to his electric power plant in Danville.
He also provided transportation for his employees. Before long he was carrying fare paying passengers. McKinley
purchased the Terminal Railroad and expanded his Interurban Service across the state.
The Interurbans provided intercity transportation until 1956. Traces of the system still are a part of the
Illinois landscape. Many communities still have the booster stations. They kept enough electricity running
through the over head power lines to keep the trains running. Many of the stations also doubled as depots.
The old "roadbeds" can still be seen in many places, such as East of Urbana along the Conrail right of way.
Frequently, when street repairs are being done in Champaign-Urbana, the rails which are still under the
streets, are exposed.
The Y on University Ave. in front of the Illinois Terminal BuildingSince the Interurban ran through many
of the communities in the area, McKinley decided to sell electricity from the rail system to the towns. This
was the beginning of the Illinois Power Company.
The Illinois Terminal was responsible for much of the growth of our Community. It is only fitting that it be
remembered by naming the center piece of local transportation after it.