Virden, IL: Lost/C&NW Depot

(Satellite, this route still has a well-defined treeline to the north.)

Chicago & North Western Historical Society posted
Someone wanted to see photographs of C&NW station stops to the west of Springfield, Illinois.  This is the line which ran south from Nelson, Illinois through Peoria and South Pekin all the way to Pontoon Beach, Illinois outside of St. Louis.  We hold only a rare few photos of such station stops on that line.  This one of Virden was taken in 1949 by an unknown photographer.

Jack Sartoris: IIRC, the station in Benld looked like this, too..

Michael Basso: Did the line NOT terminate in Madison?

Bill Edrington: Michael Basso - Madison Yard was the end of CNW-owned track, with trackage rights between Madison and Bridge Junction (East St. Louis) over the IT. The portion of the line below DeCamp Junction was the former Litchfield & Madison, acquired by the CNW in 1958.

Guy Ward: Nearby was the Virden coal mine. C&NW unit trains took coal to either Commonwealth Edison near Chicago or Wisconsin Electric near Racine. I forget but Virden was one of three mines that we served. The others were Elm just west of Peoria and Monterey much further south.

Joseph Obrien shared

Sissy Ewing-Hutcheson: I wonder where it was?

Robert Sullivan: South of Pekin this C&NW line largely avoided town as it went to the coal mines around southern Macoupin County and junction with the Litchfield and Madison RR.

Joseph Obrien shared

Tim Howard commented on the above post
Thank you, here is the layout west of the Village:

Dustin Newton: Tim Howard thank you. I've lived in Virden for almost 5 years now and have been wanting some information about the raillines that run through and just west of town. From my house I'm able to watch the BNSF go under the C&NW viaduct by Cemetery Rd.

Tim Howard commented on Dustin's comment
No problem. That's the old CB&Q Viaduct and there is a bg arched culvert over Sugar Creek:

Tim Howard commented on Guy's comment
Here is the interchange with CB&Q and Siding Layout

Tim Howard commented on Guy's comment
Royal Colliery, Royal No. 2 Mine

Dennis DeBruler commented on Sissy Ewing-Hutcheson's comment
It was west of town, https://maps.app.goo.gl/RQFWFpWiu1A8ajQ28. There is still a treeline on the route north of here. 1939 aerial photo