SHAWNEE TERMINAL RAILWAY (STR)

The Shawnee Terminal Railway (STR) was a short line that once operated in Cairo, Illinois.

Brief History

The Shawnee Terminal Railway (STR) operated a modest 2.5 miles of track in Cairo, Illinois. This short line was once owned and operated by Pioneer Lines. It was later known as the Cairo Terminal Railway. Due to a combination of low traffic volume and persistent vandalism, the STR is currently out of service. Its future remains uncertain, and as of November 2019, the line no longer appeared on Pioneer's official website.

Operational details

During its operation, the STR had an interchange with CN (Canadian National) in Cairo, Illinois. This interchange was crucial for the transfer of goods and the connectivity of the short line within the larger rail network. In 2022, Patriot Rail acquired Pioneer Lines, the former operator of the STR. This acquisition marks a new chapter for the railway assets previously managed by Pioneer Lines.

Current Status

The Shawnee Terminal Railway is presently out of service. The reasons cited include low traffic volume and issues with vandalism, which have made continued operation unfeasible. The uncertainty surrounding its future is further underscored by its removal from Pioneer Lines' website in November 2019. The acquisition of Pioneer Lines by Patriot Rail in 2022 may bring new developments, but the specific status of the STR remains undetermined.

Abandoned Shawnee Terminal Railway (STR).

See the abandoned line and hear a first hand account of the demise of the line's motive power.

Former Locomotives

Number	Model	Year Built	History	Notes
PREX 102	Rebuilt RS3M	1953	Ex-CR 9931/CR 5379/CNJ 1549.	Left the property in 2013. Scrapped 2021 in La Harpe, IL (KJRY). Traction motor leads cut by vandals while at Cairo.
PREX 103	NW2	1949	Ex-IHB 8785.	Damaged in an arson fire. Later scrapped.
STR 106	SW1	1950	Ex-CTML 102/PC 8442/NYC 616.	Damaged in an arson fire. Later scrapped.
PREX 1352	SW1200RS	1959	Ex-CN 1352.	Left the property in 2013. Now stored dead in La Harpe, IL. SOLD to BUGX 12/2021. To be rebuilt.
STR	44 Tonner	19	Ex-NYC	Unknown history. Damaged in an arson fire. Later scrapped.