Trail. One of the abandoned Superior Coal Company Macoupin County coal mines operated by the Chicago and Northwestern as part of its St. Louis, Peoria and North Western operations has apparently caused mine subsidence, which caused severe damage in 2009 to an elementary school in Benld. The school district was forced to tear down the building and rebuild elsewhere. In August 2010 the Gillespie school district sued the Union Pacific, the corporate successor of the C & NW, for $22 million in damages. Almost $10 million was awarded in settlement of the lawsuit. The mine subsidence has expanded to affect private houses adjacent to the school property. References Chicago and North Western Railway Defunct Illinois railroads