Peoria & Eastern Ry.

The Peoria and Eastern Railway was incorporated on February 21, 1890, for the purpose of building a railroad between Pekin, Illinois, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The following day, the newly established company surrendered total operational control to the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway; essentially becoming an official subsidiary of ‘The Big Four.’ In 1906, the CCC&StL was acquired by the New York Central System. It was likely in that capacity that this manuscript route plan was created, as it was acquired as part of a larger archive of New York Central material.

The image presents the legacy operations of the Peoria & Eastern across Illinois and Indiana, with a noticeable legal distinction at the state line. Other New York Central lines are shown in black. Also of interest is a penciled extension of the Central Indiana Railway to connect with the Pennsylvania Railroad system near Montgomery (Indiana).