20 Years of the Pioneer Industrial Railway Part I (Updated)


The Pioneer Industrial Railway (PRY) began operations twenty years ago today, February 20. 

On February 18, 1998, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoria, Ill.-based Pioneer Railcorp assumed the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway's contract with the City of Peoria and Village of Peoria Heights to operate the Peoria, Peoria Heights & Western Railroad. 

PRY ran its first train on February 20. It was forced to vacate the line in August 2005 but returned in January 2008 when the federal Surface Transportation Board restored its operating rights.

Part I covers the period from 1998 to 2004 when the City began its efforts to convert most of the PPH&W, or "Kellar Branch," into a recreational trail. When I get time to create it, Part II will focus on the legal fight with the City in 2004-2005 and the failure of rail service in 2006-2007 that led to PRY's restoration.

Update (March 14, 2018): I have sufficient material for three parts. Part III will conclude with the carrier's second period of operation (2008-2009), subsequent deal with trail interests to enable removal of most of the Kellar Branch, and events to the present day (2018). 

- David P. Jordan

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