(Update: The depot for IC's mainline was closer to downtown.)
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| Jacob Hortenstine posted PD&E later Illinois Central Mattoon Illinois |
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
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| Jacob Hortenstine posted PD&E later Illinois Central Mattoon Illinois |
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
The color photo (which is cool) shows MX bridge, which was located just north of the current passenger depot in downtown Mattoon. The PD&E depot was located as shown on 21st Street. Up until the IC took over the PD&E, there was a transfer service between the PD&E depot and the Essex House that served both railroads at MX crossing. Shortly after the acquisition of the PD&E by the IC, trains from Peoria and Evansville started using the Essex House instead of the PD&E depot. I did talk to a man who said during WWII he departed for the service from the PD&E depot on a special train. There are rumors that the current Walker Construction building that sits at the site today was at one time the PD&E depot. However, it is of cinder block construction and as you can tell the PD&E depot was of wood construction. I went in there one day to check things out, but I saw no indication that it could ever have been the wood depot. I don't really think it is even on the same site. If you look closely at the 1938 view, you can see the old PD&E main curve down and to the right and come to a stub end. This track is still in place, though somewhat buried. You can see in the 1938 view that it is well south of the depot. However, if you go there today, the track runs just south of the Walker building.
ReplyDeleteThomas French