STREETCAR/ELECTRIC HOLDING COMPANIES

INSULL EMPIRE

In 1881 at the age of 22, Samuel Insull became the private secretary of Thomas Edison. And within a few years, he worked his way up to manager of Edison's factory in Schenectady, New York, which in 1892 became General Electric.

In 1892, Insull came to Chicago to become president of Chicago Edison, an electric power company. And in 1907, he merged Chicago Edison with Commonwealth Electric, forming Commonwealth Edison, Chicago's present electric utility.

In 1912, Insull formed the Middle West Utilities Co., a holding company which eventually acquired many electric railways and utilities throughout the United States. In 1924, Insull also formed Midland Utilities Co. owning electric railways and utilities in Indiana. In addition, Insull continued to control Commonwealth Edison, the Chicago Rapid Transit Co., and acquired three electric interurban railways operating into Chicago.

The following companies operating electric railways were all controlled by Samuel Insull. Insull resigned from control of all companies in 1932.


COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO.

Chicago Rapid Transit Co.
Chicago/Rapid Transit
Under Insull control 1911-1932
Subsidiary of Commonwealth Edison Co. 1924-1938


CHICAGO AURORA & ELGIN CORP.

Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railroad Co.
High speed interurban
Under Insull control 1926-1932


CHICAGO NORTH SHORE & MILWAUKEE RAILROAD CO.

Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad Co.
High speed interurban
Under Insull control 1916-1932


CHICAGO & INTERURBAN TRACTION CO.

Chicago and Interurban Traction Co.
Interurban
Under Insull control 1911-1922


WESTERN UNITED CORP.

Western United Gas & Electric Co.
Aurora/Elgin
Under Insull control 1927-1932
Subsidiary of Commonwealth Edison Co. 1933-1938
Transit operations sold 1936


MIDLAND UNITED CO.

Incorporated 1928. In 1945 renamed Midland Realization Co., liquidated 1950.

MIDLAND UTILITIES CO.

Incorporated 1923.

Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
High speed interurban
Acquired 1925 by Midland Utilities Co.
Became separate new company 1944

Gary Railways Co.
Gary IN
Acquired 1923 by Midland Utilities Co.
Sold to Chicago & Calumet District Transit Co. 1932

Indiana Service Corp.
Fort Wayne, Logansport, Peru, Wabash, interurban line
Acquired 1925 by Midland Utilities Co.
Transit operations sold 1948

ADDITIONAL COMPANIES

Companies acquired prior to 1928 were subsidiaries of other Insull companies, before becoming subsidiaries of Midland United Co.

Indiana Railroad
Anderson, Marion, Muncie, Richmond, interurban lines
Acquired 1930 by Midland United Co.
Transit operations sold 1942

Northern Indiana Power Co.
Kokomo, interurban line
Acquired 1925 with American Public Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1932

Public Service Co. of Indiana
Columbus, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Terre Haute, interurban line
Acquired 1912 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1941


MIDDLE WEST UTILITIES CO.

Incorporated 1912. In 1935 renamed Middle West Corp. Additional holding companies included Municipal Service Co., incorporated 1912., and National Public Service Corp., incorporated 1923 and acquiring Municipal Service Co. in 1925, acquired by Middle West Utilities Co. in 1928. Middle West Corp. liquidated 1955.

Southwestern Gas & Electric Co.
Texarkana AR
Acquired 1925 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations sold 1935

Central Illinois Public Service Co.
Anna, Joliet, Harrisburg, Mattoon, Paris, Taylorville
Acquired 1912 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1934

Illinois Northern Utilities Co.
Freeport, Dixon/Sterling
Acquired 1912 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1933

Kansas Electric Power Co.
Emporia, Lawrence
Acquired 1925 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Sold to Kansas Power & Light Co. 1943

Kentucky Securities Corp.
Frankfort, Lexington, interurban lines
Acquired 1930 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations sold 1938

Kentucky Utilities Co.
Paducah, Somerset
Acquired 1912 by Middle West Utilities Co. (Paducah added 1925 from Stone & Webster)
Transit operations sold 1944

New England Public Service Co.
Portland ME, Waterville ME, Manchester NH, interurban lines
Acquired 1925 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Became separate new company 1933/Transit operations sold 1952

Tide Water Power Co.
Wilmington NC
Acquired 1923 by National Public Service Corp./1928 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Became separate new company 1933/Acquired 1935 by Associated Gas & Electric Co.

Southwest Power Co.
McAlester OK
Acquired 1926 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations sold 1945

Municipal Service Co.
Altoona PA, Oil City/Franklin PA, Scranton PA, York PA, Delaware OH, Marion OH, interurban lines
Acquired 1925 by National Public Service Corp./1928 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Became separate new company 1932/Acquired 1936 by Associated Gas & Electric Co.

Lewistown & Reedsville Railroad Co.
Interurban (PA)
Acquired 1926 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Passenger service discontinued 1933

American Public Service Co.
Abilene TX, Marshall TX, interurban line
Acquired 1919 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1933

Central & Southwest Utilities Co.
Corpus Christi TX, Laredo TX, Natchez MS
Acquired 1925 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations sold 1935

Twin State Gas & Electric Co.
Brattleboro VT
Acquired 1912 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1925

Virginia Public Service Co.
Charlottesville, Newport News
Acquired 1923 by National Public Service Corp./1928 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Became separate new company 1933/Acquired 1935 by Associated Gas & Electric Co.

Lake Superior District Power Co. (North West Utilities Co.)
Ironwood MI, Ashland WI
Acquired 1922 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations discontinued 1933

Wisconsin Power & Light Co. (North West Utilities Co.)
Beloit, Fond Du Lac, Janesville, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, interurban lines
Acquired 1918 by Middle West Utilities Co.
Transit operations sold 1944


Go to Chicago Transit & Railfan Web Site