MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) – In the early days of the 20th century, railroads, like the Big Four and the Illinois Central Railroad, drove the Illinois economy, especially in towns like Mattoon. Those railroads were major employers.
Chris Suerdieck, curator of the Local History Center at the Mattoon Public Library, is the author of a newly published book, "The Big Dig," which examines a major railroad construction project in Mattoon in 1914.
“I’m a writer, I’m a reader and I always had in the back of my mind I’d like to do a book,” Suerdieck told WAND News. “The highlight of the story are the photos.”
Photos from "The Big Dig" project were taken by Illinois Central using glass plate negatives. Library patrons donated money to purchase the negatives from a collector.
Around 1911, an Illinois Central train crashed into a Big Four passenger train, killing the Big Four engineer. It became a catalyst for the Illinois Central to move its trains from street level to a new subway, which at its deepest is 27 feet down from street level. Bridges over the tracks allow cars to move across town without train interference.
In 1917, Illinois Central built a new depot for passenger trains which still stands today. A depot for the Big Four was constructed around the same time. It was demolished sometime around the 1980s.
The railroad dug the subway using the technology of the time, a giant steam shovel. The cost of the project was $1 million, paid for by Illinois Central. Local taxpayer funds were not needed.
"The last time I checked, Google says today’s value is about $36 million," Suerdieck stated.
"The Big Dig" is loaded with dozens of pictures. Suerdieck says about 40 to 50 of the rare photos have never been seen or published before. The hardcover book is for sale at the library for $38, and all of the proceeds benefit the library.
Today, the subway is still active, handling freight traffic for Canadian National. Amtrak passenger service uses the depot for daily trains.
The book is also available for purchase on the library's website.
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