Towns and Nature: Savanna, IL: BNSF/BN/CB&Q Railyard, Roundhouse and 1913 Depot

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Savanna, IL: BNSF/BN/CB&Q Railyard, Roundhouse and 1913 Depot

Roundhouse: (Satellite)

Depot: (Satellite, long gone)

Freight House: (Satellite, the land has been repurposed by J.B. Sullivan Inc)

While studying the Milwaukee Road facilities, I noticed the CB&Q roundhouse in an old aerial photo. The BNSF has retained several of the classification/storage tracks.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Satellite

But, as expected, the steam engine servicing facilities are gone. However, the trees have not covered up all of the land scars of the roundhouse stalls.

A closeup of the above aerial photo

Update:

William Brown posted
Not my picture of Savanna, Il in the Summer of 1939. The Milwaukee Road Roundhouse on the left. The Milwaukee/CB&Q crossing below to the left. The Wye Track for the Milwaukee's Rock Island, Il Line with five Diamonds. The ROW for the CB&Q's original Line from Fulton, Il between the Plum River and the Milwaukee's Rock Island Line. The CB&Q Roundhouse to the right. The East end of both Railroads Yards.

William Brown posted
CB&Q 245 a GP7 at the Q's Savanna, Illinois Roundhouse in early 1966. Leased NP F3's share the Outbound Track with a Q GP20/GP30 Consist. An EBay Photo.

Mike Wyatt That is an awesome picture William. I've always wanted to see an actual picture of the roundhouse and other buildings. I've been to the Savanna Historical Society but, haven't been able to find any CBQ.William Bauer I used to go to the roundhouse to yard our engines after working certain trains. It was a cool building. Savanna used to be a happening place and I'm glad I got to see it before it became a run through place.

William Brown posted
From the Savanna Historical Society Collection. A view of Savanna's CB&Q and Milwaukee Road Rail Yards during the 1965. The CB&Q Yard is on the right and dry. The Aurora Sub is slightly flooded. The Milwaukee's Nitrin Line is crossing the CB&Q at the bottom of the picture on five diamonds. This line had one turn five days per week. The boxcars in the bottom right of the picture are on the former Intrchange Tracks between the Milwaukee and CB&Q. These were active before the Aurora Sub was built. This is early in the flood as at it's peak the White Building(Milwaukee Road Depot) was completely surrounded by flood water.
Jim Arvites also posted
Aerial view of the CB&Q yard on right and the Milwaukee Road yard on left during the 1965 Mississippi River flood at Savanna, Illinois. Note the Milwaukee Road passenger depot, white building, in far left center of the picture.
(Savanna Historical Society)

William Brown posted
A Postcard with the Milwaukee Road Roundhouse in Savanna, Illinois. This early postcard was from a photo taken between 1888 and 1903. The CB&Q Aurora to Minneapolis Line is still Single Tracked with no Freight Yard. The only CB&Q Structure appears to be the farthest buildings at the upper left. The Roundhouse and the Coal Dumping Building. The Granderson Hotel and the original Milwaukee Road Depot are on the south side of the Main Tracks. They appear to be sited were the Car Department and Rip Track were located at the end. The Roundhouse is at its full buildout. The Brick Building in the center of the Postcard was the Rail Plant where Switch Frogs were built. The Shed to the right of the Rail Plant is the Ash Dump for Steam Engines. The building across the Street from the Roundhouse was a Bording House for the Train Crews. I find it interesting that a large Wood Lot is behind the Rail Plant.

William Brown posted
On the West End of the BN Yard in Savanna, Illinois in August of 1974, the Second Shift BN Switch Engine is on the Westbound Main of the Aurora Sub. It is crossing the Milwaukee Road's Nitrin Branch Line from Savanna to East Moline, Illinois. The Milwaukee was here first. The CB&Q had to six Diamonds to cross this Milwaukee Road. Both Mains of the Aurora Sub, three for the West Yard Leads and one for the Roundhouse Lead. The Milwaukee used this Line as a Wye to turn Equipment. The Savanna to CUS Passenger Train turned every night on this track. The BN had a Switch Engine a Shift. This was because Northtown Hump was just starting Construction. All Minneapolis East cars were being Mine Run to Savanna. Savanna built the East Trains. More than likely Phil Hottenstein is the youngest Switchman on this Job.

Andy Zukowski posted
CB&Q Railroad Depot in Savanna Illinois. 1913
Richard Fiedler shared
Marty Benard shared

Roger Kujawa posted
Savanna Illinois~CB&Q Railway Passenger Station B&W~Vintage Auto @ Depot~c1908
William Brown: This Station was replaced in the 1930s.
Andy Hughes: No doubt everyone under the sun in there- Dispatchers, agents/Clerks/Operators/track dept/Superintendent/ and his ontourage. and? I’m missing some one no doubt, God!😂
Pete Gambiani: Little to no trees back then…not sure why, but I find that fascinating.
Ron Atherton: A lot of the trees went to the steamboats on the Mississippi.

Same photo, but with some colorization.

Jim Arvites posted
View of the old Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad depot at Savanna, Illinois circa 1917.
Marty Bernard posted

Andy Zukowski posted
C.B.& Q Depot in Savanna, Illinois. 1912. Photo by C.R. Childs

Andy found a better exposure.

Andy Zukowski posted
C.B.& Q Depot in Savanna, Illinois. 1912. Photo by C.R. Childs

Looking in the other direction.

William Brown posted
A photo purchased on eBay, CB&Q 9993 is making a Station Stop at the CB&Q Depot in Savanna, Illinois. No date, but the Depot has five Tracks in this photo. The CB&Q Freight House is still in operation as the CB&Q 40' Boxcar is spotted on the outside Track. I did not realize that Train Crews and Waiters, Cooks and Car attendants changed at Savanna. The Westbound Train has an RPO as the Post Office Truck is ready to pick up Mail. CB&Q 9993 is an E9A built in August of 1954. Renumbered to BN 9993 after the BN Merger. Sold to WSMTD in August of 1972. Rebuilt by Morrison Knutson to BN 9923 a HEP Equipped E9AM. No photographer noted.
Any help with the Train appreciated.
William Brown posted with the same comment