Griffith, IN: Erie, GTW, EJ&E and C&O Depots

My thanks to Wayne Huduk for teaching me were the Erie, GTW, and C&O depots were located around the Griffith Junction. The title lists the depots from north to south.

I put this one up here because it includes both the GTW and EJ&E depots.

Don Panek posted
GTW 6323 slams the diamonds in Griffith, IN in 1961. She is now a part of the steam collection at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Erie Depot

This photo shows the Erie depot peaking out behind a C&O Mikado (2-8-2). The C&O joined the Erie tracks just south of the Griffith Junction.

Wayne Hudak commented on a posting
 A C&O Big Mike #1162 at Griffith eastbound past the Erie station about 1956. From my Al Chione collection.

American-Rails (source)

Wayne Hudak commented on the same posting
This photo is looking northwest. Broad Street is left(S) to right(N) in the photo. The building with the dark roof to the west side of Broad St in the upper right corner is the Erie depot. The building to far left is the GTW depot. The C&O had a depot behind the photographer's back, maybe 750-1000 feet.
[Out-of-frame to the left would be the white EJ&E Depot.]

Erie Employees Magazine, November 1959, search for "MP 240"
From the collection of Larry Berger
[The Erie depot is on the right]

5 photos and a long description concerning the Erie Depot

GTW Depot

Paul Enenback's 1970 Flickr photo shows the backside of the GTW depot, and it is painted grey.

Scott Griffith posted
Chad Quick GF Tower. Gotta love those "wrong way" TO signals which show trains running with current of traffic but with the eastbound or northbound trains on the left hand track

Wayne Hudak Amtrak's James Whitcomb Riley on the former C&O/Erie. Track in foreground is the former Michigan Central (Joliet Cut Off)
[The GTW depot is the first building on the right and the tower is the second building.]

Josh Lemier posted

Here in this super cool photograph we see Erie Lackawanna 3656 leading a manifest through Griffith, Indiana about to cross the diamonds on December 21, 1973.

Photo Credit To John Eagan.
[GTW depot on the right, the tower in the middle, and the MC track in the foreground. That is probably the crossing guard ]

Bill Molony posted
The Grand Trunk Western depot in Griffith - 1969.

Walt Fles posted
Grand Trunk and Western, May 1974, Eastbound at Griffith, Indiana. Jeff Glinka Photo
[I would have thought by the 1970s, the crossing gaurd we be controlling crossing gates rather than still walking out into the street with a stop sign.]

Trains Unlimited posted (source)
Grand Trunk Western Depot - Griffith IN - 05/25/74 - {Jeff Glinka Photo} - (the original location) - Also EJE and GTW ROWs.
Thomas Bunce That depot was moved across the tracks to the right in the late '70's and now serves as the town's railroad museum. The interlocking tower that's off screen behind and to the left was also moved to the right.
Eric Zerkle The GTW had those goofy backwards semaphores..
[The EJ&E depot must have been torn down by now because Paul's photo shows that it was quite close to the GTW depot back when it was still brown.]

Wayne Hudak commented on the first posting

Al Whitlock posted
Merry Christmas
Griffith, IN Depot
12-26-2009

EJ&E Depot

There is also a white building on the north side of the tracks on the other side of the junction. 

Paul Enenback's 1969 Flickr photo shows the bay window of the EJ&E depot and its close proximity to the GTW depot.

This photo shows the EJ&E Depot peaking out in front of the eastbound train.

Bill Molony posted
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Baldwin DT-6-6-2000 #920 passing through Griffith, Indiana back in August of 1965.
This locomotive was delivered by Baldwin in August of 1948 as EJ&E #120.
It was rebuilt with EMD 567C prime movers and modified EMD switcher hoods at La Grange in February of 1958, and renumbered to #920 at that time.
Bill posted again
Dennis DeBruler With the EJ&E depot peaking out on the right side.
Bill posted again
Greg Benco IC hoppers. Guessing off the IC. Wonder where it was going.Richard Schwanke Possibly going to NIPSCO Dean Mitchel Station.

Marty Benard posted Roger Puta's photo
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway 920 (Baldwin DT66-2000 rebuilt by EMD) at Griffith, Ind. in January 1965
Bill Molony shared
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern DT-6-6-2000 #920, since rebuilt with Electro-Motive 567C's, rolls through the busy junction of Griffith, Indiana during January of 1965. Roger Puta photo.
Peter KZ I know it's really kind of a pointless design, but I still think transfer locomotives just have their own kind of cool.
Kevan Davis The design was to replace steam locomotives and get the power of two for one crew. Early diesel reliable concerns were also at play. Crews were used to looking down the side of a boiler and fro safety put the cab in the middle.
Cameron Sczerba Wow... Only one of these left

Mark Llanuza posted
Its the year 1975 I'm at Griffith Ind with westbound with SD-38 and a center cab.
[Either the EJ&E had two buildings along the track, the depot has been "trimmed down," or the depot has been replaced by another building.]

Kevin Piper posted
Here is a view of Griffith, Indiana, showing the EJ&E depot and GTW tower. The towerman controlled access to the junction by all railroads using it. The crossing watchman is the man on the right. 5-30-66 LOUIS CERNY PHOTO/
/KEVIN PIPER COLLECTION

Mark llanuza posted
1975 Griffith Ind
[A rare view, the side away from the junction.]

C&O Depot

Wayne Hudak commented on the first posting
Here's an old 1930's photo looking towards that C&O depot, marked in red, heavily zoomed in. I remember one time, and one time only, the Amtrak James Whitcomb Riley stopped there in the 70's.

Brian Skrabutenas posted (source)
[This is at, rather than of, the C&O depot. We see the GTW depot in the left background.]

Wayne thinks road access to the C&O depot was west from Colfax along the south side of their tracks.