Essex, IL: Lost/Wabash Depot and (SX) Junction Tower: Wabash vs. Big Four/K&S

Depot: (Satellite)

Tower: (Satellite, in the northwest quadrant of the crossing.)

K&S = Kankakee & Seneca

Both railroads are now abandoned.

Richard Fiedler posted two photos with the comment: "Wabash Depot at Essex Illinois telegraph call SX at MP 60.4. Standard Chicago and Strawn design 18x36' built 1879 and the tower covering the crossing of Big Four’s  (Kankakee and Seneca RR) dated from 1901. All from Robert Fiedler collection."

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

1

2

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

1925/25 Herscher Quad @ 62,500

This is one of the few times that a later topo map did a better job of marking the location of the depot.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Richard's first share
I think these are the remnants of the depot's foundation, https://maps.app.goo.gl/74ud87sXE8A9jVG88. 1973/73 Essex Quad @ 24,000

Richard Fiedler: Dennis DeBruler my brother and I explored that exact location back in 1977-78 or so. We found scraps of wood and shingles laying around but that was it. Like so many railroads the Wabash set their wood depots on wood piles or slabs with leveling shims and that contributed to their demise in the 60’s and thereafter. Those piles rotted and the structures shifted and sagged. They didn’t use concrete foundations until they started building stucco replacements in the late teens.

Andy Zukowski posted
Wabash Railroad Depot at Essex, Illinois. 1912

Richard Fiedler: Built in 1879 by Wabash predecessor the Chicago and Strawn RR. The first train on the new route was northbound out of Forrest in March 1880. Later in 1880 the Wabash St Louis and Pacific merged their Chicago and Strawn with their Chicago and Paducah into their corporation and formed their new Chicago to Bement Route. Many depots in that line had the unusual cantilevered train order signals.