Pre-orders taken now for shipment in July 2025:

The Illini Trail, explores the history and operations of this long-abandoned, but fascinating line. Operating under various corporate names—Illinois Valley Traction, Illinois Valley Railway, Chicago Ottawa & Peoria, Illinois Valley Division of the Illinois Traction System, Chicago & Illinois Valley—the line was built in increments along the Valley. It eventually stretched from Joliet to Princeton, making it one of the longest interurban routes in the state.

Operating under the aegis of William McKinley and his Illinois Traction System, the line was never able to build a substantial freight traffic base and never achieved the level of prosperity of the parent company. Over the years the line saw traditional heavyweight arch-window interurban cars playing the route, later supplanted by more economical lightweight equipment.

The Illini Trail chronicles the passenger and freight operations and recounts the interurban’s struggle for survival from the competition of the automobile, bus, and truck transport that ultimately won out.