We are pleased to unveil our newest permanent display: This section of interurban rails, once laid along Hickory Road between Wanamaker and Acton, was kindly donated by Bill Luebkeman. (Special thanks to Rich Hayes of Green Acres Landscaping for installing the rails on-site!)
The interurban was an electric light rail passenger system that once connected cities and towns all over Indiana. In the early 20th century, Indiana boasted one of the most extensive passenger rail systems and the largest interurban station in the world (the now-demolished Indianapolis Traction Terminal, which was located at the intersection of Market and Illinois Streets).
The interurban came to Franklin Township in 1902, and with it came Wanamaker and Acton’s first residential electric service. Residents bought power from the transit company, which had installed power lines to run its trains. The rails ran down the Michigan Road (now Southeastern Avenue), then turned south on Hickory Road and continued toward Acton, where they ran along Washington Street (now Swails Street) before again turning to follow the railroad right-of-way toward Shelbyville.
Interurbans revolutionized regional travel, largely replacing horse-powered transportation and providing a fast, reliable mode of moving between cities. Express “hot shot” trains could reach speeds of 80 MPH on straight stretches of track (though 60-65 MPH was more typical), and regional train systems connected to each other, making interstate travel possible. While coal-fueled steam trains were still more commonly used for long-distance travel, it was said that a passenger could travel from New York to Wisconsin without ever leaving the interurban system.
The interurbans reached their peak in the 1920s. In the 1930s, the Great Depression and the rise of private automobiles and motor coaches strained public transit systems. Less-traveled routes were discontinued (including the ones that passed through Franklin Township). Inter-city traction service in Indiana ceased entirely in 1941, and many of the rails were pulled up for scrap during World War II. Others were left in place and simply paved over. Today, there are only a handful of sites where interurban rails or the original traction poles can be seen — though their legacy remains in road configurations and street names, such as those named after numbered interurban stops in Indianapolis and Greenwood (Stop 11 Road, et al.).
For a more complete history of the rise and fall of the interurbans, attend our Sesquicentennial Celebration, where FTHS secretary Alena Van Arendonk will be giving a thorough presentation on the topic! You can also see (and touch!) the interurban rails that helped bring power and convenient travel to Wanamaker and Acton.