By Helen W. Linsenmeyer-Keyser who is retired and living in Arkansas. This commentary appeared in The Southern Illinoisan © in September, 1998.

The Coal Belt Electric Railway Company, an electric-powered trolley line built in 1901, served Carterville, Herrin, and Marion and points in between. Passengers at designated stops were picked up as well as those who flagged the trolley down anywhere along the line.

The line connected these three towns by means of the Wye in Fordville (now Energy) and provided the principal means of transportation for coal miners between their homes and the mines. During the early years of this century, more than 30 coal mines were operating within six miles of Herrin.

Service was effective from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The miners were the earliest passengers. During the day, office workers, store clerks, shoppers and high school students traveled to and from work, home, school or business.

The afternoon crowd consisted largely of ladies, dressed in fashionable outfits complete with elaborate wide-brimmed hats and gloves, who met with friends for social affairs or shopping.

Those living in Marion would ride the Wye and transfer to the Carterville bound car, for example, all for the price of a single fare (5 cents one way).

As Henry Ford began production of his “Tin Lizzies” in Detroit, miners who could afford the price of $500 were able to purchase their own means of transportation and revenue began to drop from $140,000 in 1921 to $32,000 in 1925. In 1926 the electric railway service was discontinued. The automobile age had begun in earnest.

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