Rantoul, IL: CN+Amtrak/IC Depot

(Satellite)

This town was on the IC Branch of Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railroad (HR&E).

Paul Jevert shared
Here is a postcard view of IC's Rantoul, Illinois station, probably in the mid-1940's, based on the automobiles. Happily, the station (dating from around 1918) survives and even Amtrak passenger trains still stop at this location.
Dennis DeBruler https://www.google.com/.../@40.3111769,-88.../data=!3m1!1e3

Dennis DeBruler commented on Paul's share
They put in a new crossing for both tracks and then severed the western track. That seems to be rather poor planning.
https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...

Paul Jevert shared a Vintage Railroad Photos pre-1975ish post

The quality isn't the best but here's a shot of the interior of the depot at Rantoul, IL. On the back wall is a chalkboard, dated April 14, 1941, with train schedules. Southbound trains included numbers 1, 3, 25, 31, and 55. Northbound trains included 2, 26, 32, and 54.

This photo was taken some eight months before the U.S. entered WWII. Rantoul was located next to Chanute Field, later renamed Chanute Air Force Base. Countless military personnel traveled to Chanute aboard IC trains. (BTW, I don't believe the gentlemen at left is a serviceman. His clothing and hat don't appear to be GI-issue and he lacks any military insignia on his sleeves. IMO he is probably a taxi driver or messenger).

Photographer unknown, Cliff Downey collection.

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted
IC's depot in Rantoul, IL, as seen in 1941. The IC had built a new brick depot in Rantoul in the 1920's but the old depot survived a few more years before being demolished. IC photo, Cliff Downey collection.
Paul Jevert shared
Illinois Central Rantoul Depot of frame construction in 1941 looking south to Thomasboro !
[The gables on the grain elevator are at a 90-degree angle to what is shown on the postcard.]

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted

Over the past eight years I've posted several thousand photos to this page. But IMHO this once evokes more thoughts of a long-gone era than any photo I've posted. The photo was taken in 1941 by an IC company photographer inside the IC's old depot at Rantoul, IL (IC did build a brick depot at Rantoul in the 1920s but the old depot survived into the 1940s).

Where does one begin with this photo? How about that large cast iron stove in the center. One has to wonder how many railroaders that stove helped warm over the years, and how many stories were told around the stove. How many folks walked across that creaky wooden floor, and how many train orders were handed up to train crews using those hoops and the train order fork hanging on the back wall.

That roll-top desk in the background has several stacks of paperwork, neatly arranged, with a weight on top of one of the stacks to keep the papers from blowing away. On top of the desk is a rack with passenger timetables from different roads. The waiting room is on the other side. A ticket window, with a metal grate, can be seen behind the stove. The grate is supposed to keep robbers from jumping the counter and stealing the money, but the door to the waiting room (at far left) is standing open!

The tables in the foreground are filled with all types of paperwork. A Conger battery-powered lantern can also be seen.

In the background two men are visible. The one seated in the corner is probably the operator. But who is the other guy? A conductor waiting for train orders? A section foreman getting a track line-up? Maybe just a railroader shooting the breeze before heading out on his next train? Two phones are visible, but there is undoubtedly also a telegraph key for communicating with the dispatcher.

Lighting is pretty minimal, with only four lights suspended from the ceiling visible. And of course there is the ubiquitous clock hanging on that tongue-and-grove wooden wall to keep everything in time.

Today, most of the objects visible in the photo would be considered antiques. But back in 1941 these objects were regarded as common, every day tools. But together these common, every day tools helped keep trains moving on the IC.