Taylorville, IL: C&IM Roundhouse and shops destroyed by tornado

(Satellite)

Larry Senalik posted
Taylorville Yard

John Pescitelli commented on Larry's post, cropped
Took this in 03

I saved a satellite image since it will change. The Chicago & Illinois Midland tracks run across the north part of the property. The NS/Wabash tracks are along Calvert Drive. The C&IM used to connect to the Wabash here. Judging from some comments, Taylorville was the main town for C&IM maintenance until they moved that function to Springfield, IL.

Satellite

Satellite accessed Jul 2020

 

That always was a rather small yard.

1938 Aerial from ILHAP, at photo resolution

Dave Durham posted
August 1922 Sanborn Taylorville C&IM Yard map.
Dave Durham shared

 

Dave Durham posted
Another shot from the PR booklet of the old gals slumbering in the roundhouse at Taylorville.

Sammy Smith shared a post
Looks like the old C&IM roundhouse in Taylorville took a direct hit in the Saturday night tornado. I was trying to see if it effected the old Frisco steamer at the old C&IM shop. I didn't know there was a old roundhouse till I looked at Google maps. Confirmed on a Wabash group.
Sammy Smith Wasn't there a diesel shop where the Frisco steamer is stored. That is still ok.
Paul Brewer Sammy Smith It was basically just an engine shed with an inspection pit . . . could only do minor servicing there. The big two story brick depot sat immediately to the northwest of the engine shed with a concrete walkway in between. Even after the C&IM moved to Springfield, my Dad would get his paycheck there. I believe that mobile home in the photo later became the office for the Taylorville agent. Thanks Sammy!Sammy Smith Paul Brewer the switch was taken out several years ago, and I think a trestle is out between the power plant and Taylorville.

Erik Spoonmore also shared this photo

Bill Crisp posted three photos with the comment: "The tornado in Taylorville yesterday was devastating. Luckily no fatalities. However the old C&IM roundhouse and backshop were destroyed."

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Bill added a "before" photo as a comment on his posting

They have allowed so many trees to go around it that I would not recognize it as a roundhouse from the street. And yet there are no trees in the satellite view at the top. Trees don't grow real fast so I'm they don't show in the satellite image.

Street View

Dave Durham posted ten photos with the comment:

Here are a few pics from inside the former C&IM roundhouse and backshops which had been owned and preserved by Taylorville resident Rod Sheedy. I am scrambling to find my thumbdrive of video taken there as well, these will have to do for now...Rod, thanks for keeping the roundhouse alive for as long as you did, AND for the guided tour. IT WAS AWESOME;GREAT JOB...

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The comments on a Connor Taylor posting about the tornado damage discuss how much of the route is still used. David summed it up:
David Jordan Cal trains for the Kincaid power plant are routed BNSF-Pekin-IMRR with actual interchange at the Illinois & Midland RR's Crescent Yard, just southwest of Pekin at Powerton.

Connor Taylor posted two photos with the comment: "The Taylorville roundhouse, April 28th, 2018. Unfortunately I was not aware of the significance this building holds to C&IM history at the time, and I've regretted the lack of photos ive taken ever since it was destroyed in a tornado."

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