(Update:
an aerial photo that includes this depot in the foreground.
The "new" depot and a turntable)
David Daruska commented: "
Before the days of inexpensive watches the clock tower served an important purpose to citizens and rail travelers alike." Comments indicated that the depot still exists, but the clock tower has been cut down. David also provided the two photos below in comments. The reporting marks on the engine are TZPR. Iowa Interstate (IAIS) owns the Rock Island tracks in central and western Illinois and in Iowa. Google has a
photo and a
streetview of the building. It appears the building is called River Station and houses multiple restaurants and/or booze joints.
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Andy Zukowski posted
Rock Island Depot in Peoria, Illinois was captured in a photograph taken by Charles Medin on May 28, 1930.
David Jordan: Minus the clock tower, which was removed in summer 1939.
Steve Bart: David Jordan Just an added note, that the tower kept getting struck by lightning which caused its removal.
Alexander Golman shared |
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David Jordan commented on Steve's comment
This May 30, 1939 article run by the Peoria Evening Star suggests it was due to the era of streamlining.
Steve Bart: David Jordan You are probably right then. I had read about the lightning somewhere, but don't know where now. Thought it was in Peoria Memories, The Early Years, but it was not. It did say, though, that this pic was taken on June 4, 1939, the day before they tore it down. |
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John Woodrow posted
Rock Island EMD LWT-12 (one of three built) Peoria rocket at Peoria Illinois 1956 (Edward Wayne Bridges photo)
Kevin Qualkenbush shared
Kristopher Isaac Barrington shared
Steve Drassler: Multiple bus coaches coupled together on rails.
Jeff Kehoe: A family friend worked on building these at EMD, later would laugh, "That was our Edsel!"
David Hibbard: My Dad and I rode it to Chicago and back not long after it went into service. The ride was similar to flying through medium turbulence.
[I have read that they rode really bad. EMD knows how to do trucks only for heavy locomotives?] |
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Roger Kujawa posted
The Rock Island depot in Peoria, Illinois. This depot was also used by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad for a while. Interesting that there looks to be a horse drawn wagon unloading a box car on the right. At the freight house to the left, more horse drawn wagon are being used to move freight. Undated post card.
Thomas Dyrek They removed the clock tower circa 1935. Does anyone know why?David Jordan There were four through tracks running along here besides industry spurs and tracks supporting passenger/Railway Post Office operations. It appears that all but one of these was removed in Spring 1975 to clean up the area. A temporary stub was kept in place for the American Freedom Train in July that year. The boxcar is probably being unloaded for a local department store.Larry Miller III Note the horse drawn carts at the REA building on the river side (opposite of the track side, if you are not familiar). My dad has been searching for any photographs showing that building. Very few seem to exist. The Railroad station was more photogenic, apparently. |
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Larry Miller III commented on Roger's post
Here is another view with the REA building to the left. |
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Thomas Dyrek posted
A few weeks ago, Roger Kujawa gave me some of him and his brother John's jaw-dropping Peoria area railroad slides from the 1970s and 1980s, including this one of a southbound Rock Island train passing the old passenger and freight depots along the Peoria riverfront in 1976. A huge thanks to Roger for giving me these amazing images - more will be posted soon! Photo by John and Roger Kujawa, Thomas Dyrek collection.
Chip Gay: Used to be quite a few more tracks on both sides, you can see in the weeds.
David Jordan: Chip Gay There used to be at least four tracks along Water Street. The Sears department store and parking deck, and Caterpillar parking deck forced several rail users to relocate c. 1964. When the Rock Island moved to its Morton Street station in 1967, there was even less need for so many tracks. The City of Peoria wanted to widen Water Street, so all but one track was removed in Spring 1975. One siding was dug up and temporarily connected at the north end for the American Freedom Train in July that year, then removed.
[The bridge in the background is the I-74 Bridge.] |
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Bill Molony posted
The Rock Island's Jet Rocket passenger train at Peoria, Illinois.
Harlan Hannah: BTW that's the depot on the right.
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Chris Farris shared
Water Street looking toward Liberty - 1937 [When I first looked at this photo, I wondered if that tower was on the Union Station. It turns out, this photo is facing North and the tower is on the RI depot. The Union Station was behind the photographer.] |
We can see the depot peaking over the top of the train.
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Local History Collection : Peoria Public Library posted
National Prohibition ended December 5th 1933. This Rock Island train contains the first shipment of Hiram Walker whiskey to arrive in Peoria after the end of National Prohibition. The arrow points to William Hull the man who brought the Hiram Walker distillery to Peoria. William Hull was a former congressman of the 18th District. He was instrumental in attracting Hiram Walker to Peoria, a firm which gave Peoria back the title of “world’s largest distillery”.
Chris Farris shared |
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| Ric Tate commented on the post |
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Roger Kujawa posted
Junior Rocket Rock Island Railroad at Peoria Illinois Vintage 1938 Railway Photo by J O Riley 2-13-38. Seen on eBay.
Roger Kujawa shared |
William Shapotkin posted three photos with the comment:
We are in downtown Peoria, IL for these pix of the one-time ROCK psgr station. In-use until 1967(?), when a more modest facility was constructed a mile or so to the north, at Evans St. Today this is a bar/restaurant. I'm sure you will agree, it is a gorgeous facility! William Shapotkin photos dated Friday, April 28, 2023.
Photo 1. View looks E-N/E.
Photo 2. View looks N-N/E.
Photo 3. View looks S-S/E.
Phil Vogel: What are current freight operations.in the Peoria area like?.
David Jordan: Phil Vogel Variety with nine railroads, but a low number of train movements on each line.
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| 1, cropped |
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| 2, cropped |
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| 3, cropped |
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