Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway

Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway
CO&E Railroad System Map
("Herrin District" above, "Marion District" below)
Overview
HeadquartersMarion, Illinois
Reporting markCOER
LocaleSouthern Illinois
Dates of operation1973 (1973)present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length8.5 mi (13.7 km) Marion District
5 mi (8.0 km) Herrin District
13.5 mi (21.7 km) Total

The Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railway (reporting mark COER) (formerly American Rail Heritage, Ltd. d/b/a Crab Orchard, and Egyptian Railroad Company) is a Class III common carrier shortline railroad that operates in the cities of Marion and Herrin in the Southern Illinois region. It is most historically recognized by the FRA for being the last U.S. railroad of any kind to use steam locomotives exclusively in regular revenue freight service up until March 1986.