Freeport, IL: IC/CC&P/ICG/IC Wallace Yards

Satellite

From a 1988 video, I learned that the name of this Chicago Central & Pacific yard is Wallace Yard. It still has about as many tracks as it had in 1939.

Sometimes the name is plural: Wallace Yards. That is because it had a East and West yard.

The original IC railyard was downtown.

1916 photos from Lake States: aerial, outside wall

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Jim Martin posted

Wallace Yards from the air in 1966.

Looking WNW

-Dwight Garnhart Collection

Janis M. Pierce: If you look really close at the top where the railroad track ends, there was a building called West Junction where my boyfriend worked. He was a telegrapher. He knew Morris Code and would send messages to the IC Railroad Office in Chicago.

Alan Kline: The track curving to the right at the west (top) end of the yard is the Madison branch. The mainline to Iowa runs from there on a diagonal towards the top left corner of the photo. You can just see the cabin at West Junction where the lines separated.

The engine house is still there, although the tracks leading to it and the fueling racks—all of the tracks south of Beach St.—are long gone.

Dennis Bergman shared

Bob Gibler: Is the CN the only RR that runs through there now?

Brandon Holliday: Bob Gibler yep. That is it. One train each way (Waterloo to Chicago area and vice versa) and I THINK there’s a local based out of Freeport but not sure when that runs.

Mike Buol: Madison WI branch in the top third of photo. [Going off to the right.]

[The track towards Madison also was the Dodgeville Branch.]

Jim French: Wow. What a great image. Switch engines working both East and West yards.

 

Rory Peterson posted

ICRR Wallace yard from roundhouse roof. Seen coaling is ICRR 1833, built 11-1887 by Brooks as 386, renumbered 5-1904. Scrapped 12-1928.

A C&NW engine and passenger consist can be seen just to the left of their water tank.

The IC must have had an older railyard with a backshop in town. If you know where it was, please leave a comment. 

Larry Foht postedIllinois Central Railroad yards

Freeport Illinois

Birds Eye view of  the Car Shop Making Box Cars

Larry Foht collection :

Michael Wayne Sitter posted two photos with the comment:

After catching the northbound La Salle-Freeport local at Baileyville, IL my friends and I drove ahead to catch the train coming west into Wallace Yard from East Junction. Early fall of 1985. -Michael W. Sitter

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Michael Wayne Sitter posted eight photos with the comment:

After chasing the northbound La Salle-Freeport local off the Amboy District and into Wallace Yard my friends and I checked out the servicing facility and found some other GM&O siblings there. After putting their train away the 713 from the local joins the crowd and then ties down for the night. -Michael W. Sitter

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