West Chicago, IL: 1869 C&NW and 1893 CB&Q Depots

(Satellite, Street View)

Later C&NW depots

This building is currently owned by West Chicago. It is empty, but they did replace the roof last year. There are plans to create a park or other activity center around it.

It was built in 1869 by the C&NW.

Jerry Hund commented on a post
This was the first CNW station for West Chicago. It once sat just west of the station that is now a community center. [Per David Schnell's comment below, this was an earlier station rather than the first.]
The city of West Chicago owns the building. Plans are to remove the gas station just to its west and perhaps build a park or other activity there. Currently it sits empty. Last year a new roof was put on it.

Below is a drawing that was made by one of Jerry's former students.

Drawing by a student of Jerry Hund

Jerry Hund posted
We always show the exteriors of train stations. Here's a look at the inside of a Chicago and North Western depot in West Chicago, Illinois around 100 years ago. These depots were also diners and meeting areas. Courtesy of the West Chicago City Museum.

Street View, Nov 2021
The gas station still existed in a Jun 2019 view.

CB&Q

Jerry Hund posted two photos with the comment:

Before it was the city of West Chicago it was formerly known as Turner Junction. This station, built in 1893, served The Aurora Branch railroad, which later became the Chicago Burlington and Quincy. This station is now at its third location, just North the Union Pacific (CNW) mainline and sits on what was once the tracks serving the CNW coach yards. It sits about 100 yards from its former home where the CB&Q once joined the CNW for its entry into Chicago. This is before the "Q" had its own mainline into Chicago. (Note the station signs. In 2011, I repainted these as part of a class project.with my high school students.)

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