PEORIA'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Peoria in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Peoria, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Union Station
Walnut St. and Water St.
Opened 1882

Number of station tracks: 7 through

Rock Island Station
212 SW Water St.
Opened 1894

At one time, all railroads serving Peoria either used Union Station, or the Rock Island Station. Railroads began pulling out of these stations in the 1930's, either by discontinuing passenger service into Peoria, or by moving to their own separate stations.

BURLINGTON ROUTE

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 11  (mixed train)         Yates City      1:15 pm
  1  (Motor Train)         Galesburg       8:00 pm     8:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 56  (Motor Train)         Galesburg       6:40 am     7:00 am
 10  (mixed train)         Yates City     11:40 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1960.

In 1955, Burlington began using a separate station on Edmund St., northeast of Union Station.

NEW YORK CENTRAL

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 14                        Indianapolis    7:50   12   2:35 pm
 44                        Indianapolis    8:30 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 43                        Indianapolis    7:00 am
 13                        Indianapolis    5:30   11  12:45 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1957.

In 1955, New York Central began terminating trains in nearby Pekin.

NICKEL PLATE ROAD

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 25                        Frankfort IN   11:15 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 26                        Frankfort IN    2:15 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1951.

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN

(Adams Street Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 92  (mixed train)         Nelson          9:30 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 93  (mixed train)         Nelson          1:00 pm
Passenger service discontinued in late 1940's.

Previously used Union Station until early 1930's.

TOLEDO PEORIA & WESTERN

(TP&W Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

123  (mixed train)         Keokuk          8:30 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

122  (mixed train)         La Harpe        7:30 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1952.

Previously used Union Station until early 1930's. In 1980 and 1981, Amtrak briefly used a station in East Peoria.

CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND

(Pekin Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  5                        Springfield    10:00 am
  7                        Springfield     5:50 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  6                        Springfield     9:22 am
  8                        Springfield     5:19 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1953.

Previously used Union Station until 1935.

Also using Union Station were Alton Railroad until the early 1930's, Illinois Central until the late 1930's, and Pennsylvania Railroad until 1932.

ROCK ISLAND

(Rock Island Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

230                        Bureau         12:30   22  12:01
502  Peoria Rocket         Chicago         7:00        6:30   12   6:45
504  Peoria Rocket         Chicago         3:00        2:00
210                        Bureau          5:15
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

209                        Bureau          5:15   21   5:00
501  Peoria Rocket         Chicago        12:50       12:30
213                        Bureau          9:10
503  Peoria Rocket         Chicago         9:35        8:05   11   9:40
Passenger service discontinued in 1978.

Rock Island did not join Amtrak, and was required to continue operation of its remaining trains beyond 1971.

MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS

(M&SL Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  9  (mixed train)         Oskaloosa       8:35 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 10  (mixed train)         Oskaloosa       9:05 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1954.

Previously used Rock Island Station until late 1930's.

STATIONS TODAY

The two main stations were located near the Illinois River. Union Station was last used in 1955, and was destroyed by fire. And the Rock Island station was last used in 1978, and still stands.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.