Illinois Midland Railway
Illinois Midland Railway by Jeff Kehoe, published by Arcadia Publishing in February 2022, offers a detailed account of a unique railroad that began operations in 1914. This edition, comprising 130 pages, explores the Illinois Midland Railway’s journey, which connected the small towns of Newark and Millington, located 50 miles southwest of Chicago. Initially envisioned as a 120-mile railroad linking Rockford and Kankakee, financial challenges limited its construction to just under two miles of track, which wound through rural landscapes.
Readers will find a narrative that highlights the community’s efforts to sustain the railroad despite its struggles, ultimately leading to its recognition as The World’s Shortest Railroad. The book delves into the historical significance of the Illinois Midland Railway and its impact on local towns, as well as the eventual establishment of museums by the townspeople to preserve its legacy. With a focus on history and local significance, this work provides insights into the Midwest’s transportation developments and the resilience of small communities.
Official synopsis Publisher
The Illinois Midland Railway began in 1914. It was located 50 miles southwest of Chicago, where it connected two small towns surrounded by farmland barely two miles apart: Newark and Millington. Originally, plans called for a 120-mile railroad to be built across northern Illinois, connecting the cities of Rockford and Kankakee and bypassing congested Chicagoland rail traffic. A turbulent financial start resulted in just 1.962 miles of rickety track that meandered through forests, pastures, and across a creek. Townspeople there rescued the struggling railroad then ran it successfully under the tutelage of the Newark Farmers Grain Elevator Company, getting into record books along the way as The World’s Shortest Railroad. The end came in 1967, when vandals burned a couple of the railroad’s bridges. The Midland ceased operations, and the rails were removed, but again townspeople in Newark and Millington came to the rescue, each establishing museums to keep the memory of their Midland alive today.
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