Illinois Traction System Track Diagrams of and similar items

Track Diagrams of the Electrified Lines Mid 1920’s 2011 Larry Miller, Jr. and Larry Miller III. ISBN: 978-0-9844006-8-3 An extremely rare copy of hand drawn diagrams from the Illinois Traction System showing connecting railroads, sidings, industries and structures of the electrified lines of this interurban system. This well preserved copy was provided from the collection of John S. Huber and scanned at 600 dpi by Larry Miller III. This book was given to John S. Huber by long-time friend John Bernie, who worked for the Illinois Terminal Railroad, lived in the St. Louis area and knew of John’s interest in railroads and of his particular interests in the Illinois Terminal Railroad, the Illinois Traction System and their history. In terms of giving a date to the maps, the Peoria page 48 shows the passenger station south of Adams that was used between 1923 and 1930. That detail alone narrows the time frame to within seven years. The pages appear to have been made using standardized format linen sheets that were drawn using graphite pencil and copied using the blue line transfer processes of the period. The texture of the linen, folded over corners, creases and erasures made to the masters are all apparent throughout the pages. The left and right edges of the sheets are rough and give the impression that each was produced and torn from a roll of material. Sidings are identified by name and lengths are given both in feet and number of cars. Each diagram indicates the miles to the next town or station not on the page. Some sidings have been removed, but the position and some of the notations are still discernible, giving information to a viable rail system that was under constant change. Unfortunately, there is no definite date as to when this set of diagrams was produced or who might have possessed them for use. It needs to be pointed out that one page listed in the General Index is not included in the actual set and is therefore missing from this reproduction: Second St. “G” St. Team Tr. Page 26. Page 31 is not missing, but noted on page 18 in the upper right hand corner as; 31 18.