In August 1972, a newly formed corporation called American Train Heritage, Inc. purchased their first piece of a projected steam railroad tour train dream for the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad. Continue reading
Tag Archives: railroad
The Marion and Eastern Railroad was purchased in 1917 from the Ernest Coal Company who owned the Eldorado, Marion and Southwestern Railroad for $60,000 dollars. The line was originally built in 1908 and was a short line railroad of 11.5 miles extending from Marion, Illinois to Paulton, Illinois. Continue reading
The village of Pittsburg in Section 35 of Lake Creek Township was platted and developed in 1906 by John Colp. He planned a new industrial community patterned after Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Continue reading
“During the summer months, from 1850 to 1872, there was a class of men in this county known as teamsters, who followed the business of moving the products of the county to the railroads and rivers. In an early day nothing could be sent to market but such things as could walk. Ox teams were used up to 1866, when everybody commenced to use horses for teaming. Continue reading
Thanks to an article written in the 1970’s by Homer Butler in his series “Glances at life”, a chunk of railroad history has been salvaged. Homer interviewed Eugene Morrison, co-owner of Home Oil Company. Eugene’s father was F.E. Morrison, who came to Marion in 1903 as a telegraph operator. In 1905, he became agent for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad and held the position till he retired in 1925 to devote full time to the Home Oil Company which he and a brother had previously started. Continue reading
