Reporting mark PACY Headquarters Decatur Locale Illinois | Dates of operation 1980– Date of operation 1980 | |
Track gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
The Prairie Central Railway (reporting mark PACY) was a short railroad line that ran from Decatur to Paris, Illinois. It was based in Decatur, and ran on about 74 miles (119 km) worth of mostly former Pennsylvania, later Penn Central Railroad and later Conrail trackage. In 1982, the railroad was extended to include approximately 80 miles (130 km), south from Paris to Mt. Carmel on former New York Central trackage, terminating at the Southern Railway.
The Prairie Central Railway was formed during the 1980s deregulation period by Craig Burroughs, which consisted of several railroad properties. An affiliate railroad was formed as the Prairie Trunk (PARY) which ran from Flora, Illinois, to Shawneetown, Illinois on former Baltimore and Ohio trackage.
Power for the trains consisted mainly of former Conrail GE U25Bs, most tracing their heritage to the New York Central.