Towns and Nature: Du Quoin, IL: IC Depot

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted
IC 4-8-2 2604 rolls past the depot at DuQuoin, IL,with a long string of hoppers. The date is October 18, 1958, and the end of the steam era on the IC is drawing near. The remaining active steamers aren't being cleaned as frequently as before, leading to 2604's somewhat ragtag appearance. Richard Wallin photo, Cliff Downey collection.
Paul Jevert shared

A different exposure

Stevphen N. Brannon posted
Classic Du Quoin shot looking north on the IC mainline between Centralia and Carbondale.

Steven Kent posted
DuQuoin Depot 1964

Steven Kent posted five photos with the comment: "Illinois Central Depot in DuQuoin, Illinois."

Dennis DeBruler commented on Steven's post
Given the fourth photo and this 1938 aerial, I think the depot was south of Main Street and between the tracks and Oak Street.
https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/webdocs/ilhap/county/data/perry/flight8/0bgy2074.jpg

Steven Kent posted two photos with the comment: "IC ticket validator for DuQuoin Depot…"

Gregory Brown commented on a post:

Yellow Cab Days 1970-1973
Early one morning I picked up a fare on Mill Street in Carbondale, Illinois who needed to catch the Illinois Central (before Amtrak) to Chicago at the old Carbondale Depot. He had called last minute and I did everything I could to get to the station.
When we got to there we jumped out of the cab grabbing his bags as the train just started to pull out of the station.
The conductor laughed when he saw we weren't getting aboard his train.
"What's the next stop?" my fare asked. "DuQuoin." I said. (20 miles)
"What's the fare?" "$5"
"It's $20 if you get me there to catch that train."
Got back in the cab and headed north on Illinois Avenue. Radioed my dispatcher "One to Duquoin".
There were no traffic signals at Jackson or Oak Streets then. Just Stop signs. I'm sure I ran them.
It was dark still and I passed the train in the North Yard before I got to Dillinger Road.
I floored the gas pedal. I could see the headlight of the locomotive in my rear view mirror. Don't know how fast I was going but I figured If I could stay in front of the train I had a chance to beat it.
I slowed down just a little in DeSoto but blew right threw the 4 way Stop. There is a bridge over the tracks just north of JB's place where the train goes from the east side of US 51 to the west side. The tracks aren't as close to the highway but I could still see the lights on the engine through the trees. I was no longer ahead of the train but I was keeping up.
Ran through Elkville and Dowell where the tracks are right next to the highway and so was the train. I had to slow down some to make my way to the Illinois Central stop in DuQuoin.
I guess the train had to slow down some too because as I was parking right on the platform the train was just pulling in.
The conductor was standing in the door of the baggage car just behind the engine when he saw us. I swear his jaw dropped to his knees. He couldn't believe that we were there.
My fare hadn't said a word till he got out of the cab handed me a $20 dollar bill and said "Thank's for the ride".
I think I drove 30 mph all the way back to Carbondale. My dispatcher was pissed but he didn't say much the rest of the shift.
One of our regular calls was to take the train crews to the Plaza Motel on East Main Street.
A few days later one of the engineers asked me if I was the one who beat him to Duquoin.
"yeah"
"I was going 70mph when you passed me in the north yard. I didn't know those cabs could go that fast."
"I didn't either." I said.