Illinois Central Railroad
The first passenger train in the area arrived two miles west of Urbana in 1854.
The track missed Urbana, not out of spite as some have accused, but because of a need
to avoid areas that would make laying track difficult. Originally, there were four routes
under consideration. The Western route was chosen because it did not require the track
to cross swampy land or require bridges to be built across the Salt Fork or the Embarrass Rivers.
The railroad also claimed that this route allowed them to cross Yankee Ridge at a low point.
Although the railroads were notorious for avoiding towns so they would be able to sell
off their huge tracts of land, that was not necessarily the case in Champaign County.
The area was not considered the best place to put a railroad. Workers feared a variety of
diseases, including cholera, milk sickness, ague and fever. It was also considered dangerous
to eat local beef, butter or milk. The area was described by workers as "one vast pond... whose green,
scum-coated surface was crossed by the trail of water-moccasin."
Despite the "cholera and water-moccasin," a small town popped up along the Illinois Central rails,
it was given the name of West Urbana. In 1858, the town's population was 3,358 and boasted over 30
businesses. This was even greater than Urbana's size. The rapid growth caused Urbana to attempt to
incorporate West Urbana. However, the people of West Urbana resisted the idea and filed for separate
incorporation. The incorporation was granted by the state and West Urbana was renamed Champaign.
Hence, two cities were formed in which transportation would forever play a role in their development.
The first passenger trains the Illinois Central operated through Champaign would take over 50 hours
to make the trip from Chicago to New Orleans. By 1889 the time was cut to 23 hours with the introduction
of The Chicago & New Orleans Limited. On February 4, 1911, I.C. renamed the route The Panama Limited.
On November 15, 1916, the train became a luxury, all Pullman car service. Due to the depression the
Panama Limited was withdrawn from service in May of 1932. The train returned to service just a little
over two years latter, in December of 1934, with the first air conditioned cars in the country.
In 1909 a train was created which would carry passengers from Chicago to Jacksonville, Florida called
the Seminole Limited. The route discontinued its Carbondale to Jacksonville branch in 1969. The Chicago
to Carbondale leg of the route was renamed the Shawnee.
An all coach train named The City of Miami began every third day service between Chicago and Miami,
Fl. In 1949 Sleeping cars were added and service was increased to two of each three days in 1950. By 1957
the service was increase on the line to every other day.
Service between Chicago and New Orleans was increased in 1947 with the introduction of the City of New Orleans.
Originally a "daytime" train, its service was aimed at the rural and intermediate income markets and
provided a 16 hour schedule between the two cities.
In 1971 passenger service through Champaign changed drastically. Illinois Central joined the Amtrak
passenger system. Amtrak immediately discontinued all passenger services through Champaign except the
City of New Orleans and the Shawnee. The City of New Orleans was renamed the Panama Limited, but Amtrak
changed the name back after a short time. Eventually the Shawnee was renamed the Illini.
Champaign Train Station c.1900The first train station in Champaign was little more than a shed. The
Doane House, West Urbana's first real train station was built in 1856, served as depot, hotel, telegraph
office and social center for the community until it burned to the ground in 1898. ICRR built a depot
which opened in early 1899 and though not the grand building the community was expecting, it served as
a reception center for many landmark events in C-U history. Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt as well as
President Diaz of Mexico spoke from its platform. The Liberty Bell was displayed there on its way to the
St. Louis exposition.
On July 2, 1923, many changes began taking place around the Champaign train station. The old depot was
settled onto its new foundation that day after having been moved 114 feet north of its original location.
Even when moving, it remained in service with hoses providing gas and water. On August 9, 1924 the new Station
was dedicated. The Depot served as many as seven trains and included waiting room, smoking room, ticket office,
railroad offices, and dining. Along with the construction of the depot the track was elevated to relieve
track congestion. The earth for the project was dredged from the section which passes through Paxton.
Big Four Railroad
1897 Railroad map The Danville, Urbana, Bloomington and Pekin Railroad Company, incorporated
August 28, 1866, built a road from Danville to Pekin and to the Eastern boundary of Illinois.
This rail line merged with a line in Indiana to form the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western
Railway Company. The railroad was opened to traffic October 1, 1869.
The I.B.&W., or the "I Better Walk" as it was affectionately known, made Urbana a stable and
independent community. Prior to its construction freight shipments were made between Urbana and
Champaign via a horse drawn street car system. Direct rail made delivery easier and more reliable.
The new railroad had been a bargaining factor in obtaining Danville's strong support for locating
the University of Illinois in Champaign County. The I.B. &W eventually became the Peoria and Eastern
Railway (P&E) Company
On February 22, 1890, the P&E "surrendered to The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway
Company (The Big Four) the operation and control of its railroad..." This was one of three railroads to
provide passenger and freight service to Urbana. People were also transported to and from Urbana via the
Wabash Railroad and the Illinois Traction or Illinois Terminal Line (See the Interurban and Trolley section).
The Big Four opened a yard and shops on the East side of Urbana in April of 1871. The location now houses
the MTD's garage and offices. There was a round house capable of servicing 15 steam engines, machine shops
and switching yards. In 1897 the shops underwent major renovations. A smoke stack for a power plant was
erected. It became a landmark in the Urbana area. The stack was 133½ feet tall and 13 feet square at the
base. There was also a water tower with a capacity of 100,000 gallons. After the turn of the century the
"Big Four" reverted back to the Peoria and Eastern Railroad.
Urbana's train station was located near the Downtown area. It now houses a small theater on Broadway
Street. It provided service for both the Big Four and the Wabash Railroads. The Big Four had a second
station station on the line in Champaign which was located near Neil and Randolph. The last passenger
train passed through Urbana in 1959.