As America Approaches 250: train service in Maryville started at turn of 20th Century

By Kathy Turner • Trains started serving the residents of Maryville in August 1901. The train ran along what is now Illinois Route 159. It connected St. Louis with the communities to the west, including Maryville. Called the East St. Louis and Interurban Railway, it was in reality a streetcar; the line would later become the Illinois Terminal Railway. The train shed was located near the current fire department building.

Though it was supposed to provide transportation for residents to St. Louis, owners of the Eads Bridge, refused to allow use of their tracks. So, anyone traveling to St. Louis had to transfer to a steam train to make the trip across the river. Because a majority of the train’s passengers were actually going to St. Louis, Illinois Terminal Railroad decided to build their own bridge over the river. This became the McKinley Bridge, which came into service in 1910 with a terminal opening in 1911 at 12th Street and Lucas Avenue. 

In addition to passenger travel, the ITC was used to transport coal from the Troy mine between 1900 and 1993. The passenger services ran until the mid-1930s, with some limited lines operating into the 1950s. 

Maryville was home to a train shed for servicing trains. It stood near the passenger substation at Main and Center Streets. 

By the 1950s, the Illinois Terminal Railroad began to see decreased profits and ridership. The track between Edwardsville and Madison was abandoned in 1956. The remaining 134 daily train trips between St. Louis and Granite City ended thereafter. The McKinley Bridge was sold to the City of Venice for $13.5 million. 

Today, Maryville and the surrounding region can see much evidence of train travel in the region. The Madison County Transit District was created in 1980. Thanks to legislative support, the communities in the region began the work of converting old railroad line easements to biking and hiking trails since the 1990s. Today, the 138-mile system of trails allow bicyclists and pedestrians to travel throughout Madison County using those abandoned train track easements.