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| 20141013 0147, west elevation |
While taking pictures of the grain elevator in Ashkum, I discovered that not only is the interlocking tower still standing, the depot is also still standing.
It has the usual bay window for the agents desk and an asymmetrical design because passengers use the North (left) end and express package handling is done in the south end. What is unusual is that there is no platform for the passengers. Just a little platform at the freight door to allow a baggage cart to be rolled out to the train. This provides easy access to the head-end car of a northbound train. Were their wood planks on the track so that the cart could be shoved further to meet southbound trains? Or did the agent have to carry the packages across the northbound tracks? Note below the big freight door on the horse&buggy side. Evidently some of the packages could be rather big.
It has the usual bay window for the agents desk and an asymmetrical design because passengers use the North (left) end and express package handling is done in the south end. What is unusual is that there is no platform for the passengers. Just a little platform at the freight door to allow a baggage cart to be rolled out to the train. This provides easy access to the head-end car of a northbound train. Were their wood planks on the track so that the cart could be shoved further to meet southbound trains? Or did the agent have to carry the packages across the northbound tracks? Note below the big freight door on the horse&buggy side. Evidently some of the packages could be rather big.
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| Looking Northwest |
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| Chris Goepel posted The IC wood frame combination depot on the Chicago District at Ashkum, Illinois, circa 1910. Chris Goepel: During World War II, the IC embarked upon a facilities rationalization and modernization program. The result was smaller standardized "replacement" depots for many stations on the Illinois, Springfield, St. Louis, Kentucky, and Iowa divisions during 1942-1945. The Type A depot at Ashkum (replacing the depot pictured in this postcard view) still stands today and is an extant example of that modernization program. Paul Jevert shared The IC wood frame combination depot on the Chicago District at Ashkum, Illinois, circa 1910. |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Paul's share Judging by the placement of the passenger and freight doors, the one still standing is a replacement. Oct 13, 2014 Update: I saw Chris' comment that this is a Type A replacement depot done during a 1942-45 simplification project. |
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