Friday, December 18, 2015

Matteson, IL: IC and MC Joint Depot

Bill Molony -> RAILROAD HISTORY BUFFS OF ILLINOIS
Bill posted again
Bill's comment:
This is the joint station that was at the intersection of the Chicago Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Joliet Branch of the Michigan Central Railroad in Matteson, Illinois. The station, in the southeast quadrant of the intersection, was shared by both railroads. The passenger train on the left is a westbound Michigan Central train.This joint station was removed when the IC tracks were elevated in the 1920's.
Bill posted again:
Jeff Schramm Nice! Any idea of the date? This is pretty early.
Bill Molony That is a wood-burning locomotive, so that puts it in about the late 1860's.

Bill Molony posted
The Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Railroad and the Joliet branch of the Michigan Central Railroad were both completed in the 1850's, and they intersected at-grade in southern Cook County at a location that came to be known as Matteson. 
This is the joint Illinois Central - Michigan Central depot at Matteson; it was in the southeast quadrant of the intersection, with the Michigan Central portion on the left facing north and the Illinois Central portion on the right facing west. 
This depot was in use until the early 1920's, when the IC elevated its tracks through Matteson.
Bill Molony posted
A northbound Illinois Central passenger train at the joint Illinois Central - Michigan Central station at Matteson, Illinois.
The overpass was for the Joliet & Southern Traction Company, an electric interurban railroad that operated between Joliet and Chicago Heights, beginning in 1908 and ending in 1922.

BRHS posted
A northbound three-car Illinois Central passenger train, stopped at the joint Illinois Central-Michigan Central station at Matteson, Illinois, in Rich Township, Cook County.
The overpass is for the Joliet & Southern Traction Company, and electric interurban railroad that ran between Joliet and Chicago Heights. the interurban was in operation from 1906 until 1922.
This station and the overpass was removed in 1922 when the Illinois Central tracks were elevated through Matteson.
Photograph from the Matteson Historical Society.
From the Blackhawk collection.
Rick Powell: I am guessing this is a northbound view. I think the interchange track was in the northeast quadrant, I saw some switch ties on the NYC still in place in the 60s.
Dennis DeBruler: I'm always glad when a railfan photo catches some of the signalling pipelines.

Bill Molony posted
Bill Molony shared
Ken Morrison: always thought the Joliet & Southern paralleled the J, not the MC. Learn something new every day...

2 comments:

  1. There was an interchange on the northeast quad. It was also used as a spur for the lumber yard that was there up thru the early 70's. The spur was used by the IC for lumber cars. The MC connection had been removed years earlier.

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  2. I was incorrect, this is a southbound view of a northbound train. Apparently the main interchange track was behind the station (in the southeast quadrant)with another possible interchange track in the northeast quadrant (as Steven indicated above) that later served a lumber yard.

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