Kempton, IL: Lost/IC Depot and Wood Grain Elevators

(Satellite, it looks like part of the foundation slab still exists.)

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central 2059 (4-6-2) is on a local freight at the Kempton, Illinois Depot on September 6, 1956.
Everett Lueck: 2034 and 2059 were the regular power on the Kankakee to Minonk line which split off of the Bloomer just south of Kempton. Sometimes the train turned on the wye at Minonk Jct and returned to Kankakee, at other times it continued south into Bloomington and tied up there. There are some Bruce Meyer photos of 2059 in Bloomington on a very cold January 31, 1956 in the Lake States collection. Sister engine 2034 ran on the line until at least the end of November, 1957.
Ed Schloz: and another grain elevator!...the good old days!

Dennis DeBruler commented on Ed's comment
It looks like this town used to have two grain elevators. It appears the photographer is standing close to the south elevator and we see the north elevator in the photo.
 https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/webdocs/ilhap/county/data/ford/flight7/000y3a091.jpg

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central 907 (2-8-0) is on a local freight, switching at Kempton, Illinois on January 9, 1956. Photographed by Monty Powell
Everett Lueck: 907 was one of the last 2-8-0's assigned to the Bloomer line and it is headed to Normal Jct. and Bloomington in this photo. 902 was replaced by the 908 in early 1956, so it was 980 and 907 after that. Bruce Meyer photographed 907 being turned and serviced in Bloomington on March 9, 1956 and this may be from the photos that he took at that time. More Meyer ICRR photos are in the Lake States Railway Historical Association Archive.
Dennis DeBruler: In the right background we can see one of the town's grain elevators.

 

Everett Lueck commented on the above post
A bit of color correction

 

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Depot in Kempton, Illinois. 1995
Steven Hooker shared
Richard Fiedler shared
Andy Zukowski posted again with the same comment.

 

David Cenci commented on Andy's second post
1976

The grain elevators have expanded.

Satellite

No street view driver has visited this town. That is unusual for Illinois. I was looking for a fall protector since this railroad is owned by the shortline Bloomer Line. But it appears IlliniRail needs to update its map because the satellite image indicates that the tracks are no longer used. Note in the above satellite image that they have buried the tracks with gravel and that a truck is parked on tracks. So, this elevator has lost service twice, once by Illinois Central and then again by Bloomer Line.

IlliniRail via Dennis DeBruler