East St. Louis & Suburban Railway
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The East St. Louis & Suburban Railway operated in the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe. The great "East Side Electric Railway System" stretched from Eads Bridge, which connects East St. Louis, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, east to Lebanon, Illinois, and from Alton, Illinois, to Waterloo, Illinois. This interurban railway system moved commuters and express freight among the towns of the East St. Louis, Illinois area, including Belleville, Collinsville, Waterloo, Columbia, Granite City, National City, French Village, and Lebanon.
The system sprouted during the industrial growth of St. Louis spilling over the Mississippie River to the cheaper land on the Illinois Side. From 1870-1910, East St. Louis and the surrounding area attracted industrial development to the transportation hub. During this period, the population of East St. Louis population nearly doubled each decade. Amidst this growth, the East St. Louis & Suburban grew by acquiring shorter interurban lines. The Illionis Traction System reached St. Louis via traction rights on the East St. Louis & Suburban over Eads Bridge until completion of McKinley Bridge over the Mississippi River. The Illinois Terminal purchased the Alton Line. The East St. Louis & Suburban shared a car barn on Ridge Ave. in East St. Louis with the St. Louis & Belleville Electric Railway, which was also part of the Great East Side Electric Railway System. The system was abandoned sectionally during the 1930’s.
