Roanoke, IL: Santa Fe Depot

(Satellite?)

 

Andy Zukowski posted
Santa Fe Railroad Depot in Roanoke, Illinois. 1914
Mark Stoeckel: This has been [moved] a short distance and restored

1 of 8 photos posted by John Joseph Walsh III
While the Santa Fe Pekin branch has been gone for thirty plus years, the station in Roanoke, IL is still there complete with a old signal.

Michael Buckley: We used to stop there to switch a few industry's . There was a alfalfa pellet plant at east end we set covered hopers to fill with pellets . There was Martin imp Co that got John Deere machinery in . Roanoke cement got hoppers of cement and cars of sand . We would also stop there to eat on way to Pekin if east bound #48 local was late . They had a Itialian Resturant that had the best fryed chicken & spaghetti ! They had a agent /operator that was on duty that have us a switch list to switch the industry's . They had the two locals #47-48 and at one time had a Dootle bug aka motor car for passanger service . It ran from Pekin Il to Chicago Dearborn station . They also had a Circus train now and then going to Peoria . I realy liked the Pekin dist . It was layed back and no officials bothered you there . Also from Roanoke to Anconnia it was loaded with Pheasants along right way . It would be nothing to see 100 pheasants on a trip . The farmers would harvest the corn in fall and pheasants would be along RR tracks because of trees and brush . Loved the Pekin Branch hated to see it go ! The only part left is Crandel former Nickel plate line that comes from bloomington to east Peoria il . TPW comes out on NS and goes Crandall to Morton ill . They still switch industries there Cat / Libbieys pumpkin plant .

David Jordan: Unfortunately, Caterpillar and Libby's (Nestle) have quit rail, but Fort Transfer Co does get herbicide tank cars at Morton. Morton Buildings has been transloading lumber from rail cars at TP&W's East Peoria Yard. Whether they'll ever resume rail is unclear.

The town has three elevators. I'm impressed how big the Farmers Association elevator is considering that it does not have rail service. I spent more time than I'm going to admit looking for the depot on satellite images, but I could not find it.

4 of 10 photos posted by Jan Smith with the comment:

ATSF depot

Pekin - Streator Branch.

Roanoke Illinois 4-10-24

1

2

3

4