Arthur, IL: C&EI & Pennsy Union Depot and Grain Elevators

(Satellite)

IMLS Digital Collections & Content

Railroad, Union Depot in snow

Description: Union Depot was used by two railroads. It was located on west side of Vine street between the two tracks systems. Each had a separate telegrapher office and freight storage room. They shared a common passenger waiting room on west side of building. South side was used by Paris and Decatur, (the original railroad that came through in 1872) or Terre Haute to Peoria, Vandalia Line, Illinois Midland, Pennsylvania. The railroad changed hands many times. North side was used by C&EI railroad from 1891 to 1922, when they ruled it unsafe for passengers and built a separate depot East of Vine street. This photo is looking West from Vine Street.

IMLS Digital Collections & Content

Railroad, Union Depot

Description: Union Depot with passenger train in station showing Davis Grain elevator. Train on the Paris Decatur tracks on it's way to Decatur. Winter snow scene. Photo taken from Elevator on east side of Vine street. Mr. Eberhardt often climbed as high as he could in the area in order to get just the "right photo".

Frank Smitty Schmidt posted
Arthur IL on the C&EI circa 1900

1940 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

I immediately saw two grain elevators. The third one is hiding behind the elevator on the right.

Andy Zukowski posted

Aerial View of Union Railroad, Depot and Elevator in Arthur, Illinois. 1915

Looking east from water tower showing the two railroads trackage, C&EI crossing from upper left to right and Paris Decatur from top to bottom. Paris and Decatur was the original railroad that was built in 1872 and responsible for the locating of the town of Arthur. The C&EI was built in 1893. This photo shows the Union Depot that served both railroads until 1922 and all three elevators. Most of current older residents do not remember the third elevator downtown. They seem to forget the one on the left (Kuhn Bros).

[Note the junction tower near the center foreground.]

As expected, the grain elevator moved to the edge of town.

Street View, Nov 2022
[I forgot to save the link, and now I can find only 2024 and 2015 views. :-(]

What is not expected is that five of the bins by the elevator have been torn down.

Satellite