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Interstate A History Of Interstate Public Service Rail Operations Jerry Marle DJ
Interstate A History Of Interstate Public Service Rail Operations By Jerry Marlette
Hardcover With Dustjacket
272 Pages
Copyright 1990
Hardbound, this volume contains 272 pages with 428 photographs, 42 maps and charts, 37 tickets and tokens and 22 other illustrations, plus a multi-color dust jacket illustrated by Chuck Boie.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgements
1 Component Company Histories
The predecessor companies of Interstate Public Service
2 Rights-of-Way
From mud paths to modern rail
3 Structures
Barns, freight houses, and terminals along the route
4 Passenger Equipment and Service
From city streetcars to elegant sleeper cars
5 Freight and Express Equipment and Service
Moving cargo and packages by interurban
6 Safety and Accidents
Interstate's innovative safety programs and occasional mishaps
Interstate Public Service Corporate Family Tree
Appendix
Data on Predecessor Companies
Interstate Route List
Operating Periods of Companies
Selected Statistics
Traction Motors
Interstate Rosters
Roads Operated
Timetables
Company Passes
Tickets and Transfers
Bibliography
Track Map
Index
Author Jerry Marlette has been interested in Indiana electric railroads since 1939, when Indiana Railroad was still operating. His research and writings have resulted in a complete history of Indiana lines ("Electric Railroads of Indiana," 1959 and 1980 editions) and numerous articles. He was also one of the co-founders of the Indiana Museum of Transportation in Noblesville, Indiana. He has always felt an affinity with Interstate Public Service since learning that the last big steel combine, No. 157, went into service the day he was born.
Interstate Public Service operated one of the longest electric interurban railway routes in the Midwest, running from Indianapolis to Louisville. Interstate served its passengers for a number of years with an operation that became an industry leader and provided such unusual interurban amenities as sleeping and dining cars. Tracing its roots has even uncovered ties with Samuel Insull - the man known for founding the modern electric utility business and was also known for his ingenuity in the interurban industry. In spite of efforts in modernization and consolidation, Interstate could not withstand the competition of the private automobile and the last remnant of the line ceased passenger service in 1941.
Author Jerry Marlette has done a very thorough job of researching and compiling this subject which, until now, had very little documentation. Rather than using a chronological format, the author chose to cover major topics by chapter. Topics include Interstate's component company histories; rights-of-way; terminals; barns and freight houses along the line; information on passenger equipment and freight equipment; and details about Interstate's innovative safety programs. The major chapters are followed by a comprehensive corporate family tree.
The Appendix includes more valuable information about the line including an exhaustive section providing data on Interstate's predecessor companies. There are informative charts included such as the rosters of equipment. A detailed track map provides mileages between sidings, stops, stations, etc. The Appendix also features a section of timetables, tokens, tickets and transfers used on the line.
The Interstate Public Service Company was one of the major interurban electric railways in the United States. This industry leader operated scheduled service from Indianapolis to Louisville with impressive equipment that included both dining and sleeping cars. Incorporated in 1912 by merging existing lines, the company battled floods, strikes, snow storms and other hardships. In 1929, Interstate lost its independent identity in a merger by Samuel Insull's Midland Utilities Company into the larger Indiana Railroad. However in spite of both the consolidation and new passenger cars, the larger company could not survive competition from the private automobile and the hard times of the 1930s.
This book responds to increasing interest in Interstate Public Service by providing a detailed and extensive study of the line. It is organized by topic, rather than chronologically. One chapter provides intricate component company histories, giving
a chronological history of when each company began, developments and reorganizations which took place and the date when it was merged into Interstate Public Service Company.
Another section features information on In-terstate's rights-of-way. Structures such as barns, terminals and freight houses are included in one chapter. Details are given about the line's passenger and freight equipment and service in two other sections, including information, drawings and photos of Interstate's sleeper cars. A final chapter studies safety and occasional accidents.
The Appendix has numerous items useful for quick reference including a corporate family tree, rosters of equipment, a detailed track map and passes, timetables and tickets.
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