Woodstock and Sycamore Traction Company
Encyclopedia
The Woodstock and Sycamore Traction Company was a short-lived interurban
railroad that operated from 1911 to 1918 between the cities of Sycamore
and Marengo, Illinois
; it never reached its intended destination of Woodstock
.
Its headquarters and repair shop were in the city of Genoa
, midway on the route.
The 26.5 miles (42.6 km) track was never electrified, due to lack of funds, so gasoline-powered cars were used. Three 55 feet (16.8 m) McKeen cars
were purchased, but the large cars proved unsatisfactory; they were replaced by two smaller Fairbanks-Morse
cars.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
railroad that operated from 1911 to 1918 between the cities of Sycamore
Sycamore, Illinois
Sycamore is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It has a commercial district based and centered on Illinois Route 64. The population was 17,519 at the 2010 census, up from 12,020 at the 2000 census.-Early settlement:...
and Marengo, Illinois
Marengo, Illinois
Marengo is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,355 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Marengo is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Major Streets:...
; it never reached its intended destination of Woodstock
Woodstock, Illinois
Woodstock is a far northwest suburb of Chicago in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 20,151 at the 2000 census. The 2010 Census shows 24,770 residents. It is the county seat of McHenry County...
.
Its headquarters and repair shop were in the city of Genoa
Genoa, Illinois
Genoa is a city in the north-east corner of DeKalb County, Illinois in the United States. It is located on the historic Galena-Chicago stagecoach route. At the 2010 census the city had a population of 5,193, up from 4,169 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, midway on the route.
The 26.5 miles (42.6 km) track was never electrified, due to lack of funds, so gasoline-powered cars were used. Three 55 feet (16.8 m) McKeen cars
McKeen Motor Car Company
The McKeen Motor Car Company of Omaha, Nebraska was a builder of internal combustion-engined railroad motor cars , constructing 152 between 1905–1917....
were purchased, but the large cars proved unsatisfactory; they were replaced by two smaller Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks Morse and Company was a manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, locomotives and industrial supplies until it was merged in 1958...
cars.
External links
- Dave's Rail Pix: Illinois includes several photos of the road's equipment.