History

   The Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway traces its history back to at least 1857.  However, it was not until 1870 that 18 miles of track was laid by the Pekin, Decatur & Lincoln Railway between Pekin and Delavan Illinois.  The PD&L acquired the Decatur, Sullivan & Mattoon Railroad in 1879, forming the PD&E.  The PD&E purchased the Grayville & Mattoon Railroad in 1880, and pushed the line to Evansville, Indiana by 1881.  A short branch was built to New Harmony, Indiana in the same year.  In 1893, the PD&E acquired the Chicago & Ohio River Railroad, a line from Olney Illinois to Sidell Illinois.  However, this put the PD&E into receivership by 1894, and the C&OR was sold off in 1899.  The PD&E was acquired at auction by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1900.

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