Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Duncansville, PA: WYE Junction Tower: Pennsy vs. Pennsy and Everett Railroad

(Satellite)

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Here is an original photo that I took of a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Blair County on October 5, 1964. Shown here (L to R) are PRR engines #2511, #9546-B, and #9686. These locomotives, two freight cars, a caboose, and three helper engines have just arrived from Altoona and are now backing into the Hollidaysburg Yards as they pass WYE Tower.
(Photo from Thomas C. Ayers)

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Here is an original photo that I took of Pennsylvania Railroad property at the Wye Switches in Duncansville, Blair County on July 28, 1960. Shown here is the PRR's WYE Tower. The men who worked here controlled rail traffic on several branch lines: Hollidaysburg to Altoona, Hollidaysburg to Bedford, Hollidaysburg to Petersburg, plus Hollidaysburg to Gallitzin via the New Portage Branch and the Muleshoe Curve. Also visible is the railhead facing West, toward Duncansville and the Allegheny Mountains in the hazy distance. From 1834 until 1854, this was the right-of-way for the Allegheny Portage Railroad. And from 1850 until 1854, this location was known as "New Portage Junction" since it was the eastern junction of the New Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad (coming from Altoona).
(Photo from Thomas C. Ayers)

My first thought was the building in the north point of the wye. But that was not consistent with the photo. Then I found the building by the junction with the east leg.
May 7, 1962 @ 27,000; AR1VALR00040014

This wye is now the end of the line for the Everett Railroad.
Satellite

EverettRailroad_maps

Ducansville is Everett's headquarters. The tourist trains run out of Hollidaysburg.
Marlene, Apr 2022

1901/57 Hollidaysburg Quad @ 62,500

Waterloo, IL: 1873+1911 Retail/GM&O/M&O Depot

(Satellite)

Street View, Jul 2013

Dennis Patton posted two photos with the comment: "This is one of the first depots built by the Cairo and St. Louis Railroad. It was erected in 1873 in Waterloo, Illinois. A new brick depot was built right across the tracks in 1911 by the Mobile and Ohio, who had a lease to purchase on the tracks."
Cliff Kierstead shared
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I.e. Xam commented on Dennis' post
Here is the Mobile and Ohio Depot. I took picture in 2011.

1954/59 Waterloo Quad @ 24,000

The above map explains why this elevator was so far away from the railroad. Specifically, it had its own industrial spur. Is the blue tank on the left used to store fertilizer?
Street View, Sep 2022

Harrisville, MI: 1901 LSRC/DM/DBCA

(Satellite)

DBCA = Detroit, Bay City & Alpena, 3' 2" gauge
DM = Detroit & Mackinac
LSRC = Lake State Railway

becky schroeder, Jan 2023

Friends of the Harrisville Train Depot posted two images with the comment: "We’re working on restoring the Harrisville Train Depot in NE Michigan.  We’ve cleaned the limestone exterior, fixed the roof and windows, but we are not a wealthy community and additional funding is getting hard to find.  We’re looking for tips on fundraising and grant opportunities.  She was closed to passenger traffic in 1951, and has been abused and neglected for decades.  We’re beyond grateful to Lake State Railway, as they gifted the building and surrounding property to our community in 2022.  Before/After"
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The round roof must have been a challenge.
HarrisvilleDepot


The Harrisville Train Depot is one of few remaining in the northern Lower Peninsula. While many Michigan train stations were constructed of lumber, brick or field stone, the Harrisville Train Depot was constructed of cut stone, making it a meritorious and rare architectural style. The Detroit and Mackinac Railway Company (D & M) considered the Harrisville location important enough to bring in the esteemed architects Spier and Rohns (S & R). S & R gave the small Harrisville Train Depot equal quality design considerations as was provided to their larger, more recognized train depots including the Michigan Central Railroad Depot in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the Durand Union Station in Durand, Michigan.
HarrisvilleDepot_about

Moro, IL: and Bethalto, IL: Lost/Big Four Depots

Moro: (Satellite, a guess based on the aerial photo below.)
Bethalto: (Satellite, Main Street was built after the depot was removed.)

Andy Zukowski posted
Railroad Depot in Moro, Illinois.
The "Big Four" railroad, formally known as the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (CCC&StL), had a depot in the unincorporated village of Moro, Illinois. The railroad was a key part of Moro's early development

Larry Candilas commented on Andy's post
MP 235.2 Illinois Division original route by-passed in early 1900s by "Short Line" via Livingston. Original route slowly abandoned and not listed in 1947 timetable - map from 1937 timetable.

The larger rectangle that is parallel to the tracks is just north of Bender Street. But it is not very big. But the photo shows that the depot was kind of small. I'd be more confident if I saw evidence of a dormer on the rectangle.
1941 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

I don't know why the Big Four built a depot here since they had one in Bethalto, which is just a couple of miles away.
1954/59 Bethalto Quad @ 24,000

It looks like Bethalto had its depot south of the tracks and a little east of Prairie Street. That roof has the bumps that I would expect to see for a building with a dormer over the agent's bay window.
1941 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Monday, September 29, 2025

Canon City, CO: 1909 Visitor Center/DRG&W and Royal Gorge/Santa Fe Depots

DRG&W: (Satellite)
Santa Fe: (Satellite)

Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center/DRG&W
Street View, Aug 2021

Royal Gorge Tourist Train/Santa Fe Depot
Street View, Oct 2023

Al Tillotson posted
Denver & Rio Grande Western station, Canon City CO, Monday morning September 22, 2025.

Al Tillotson posted two photos with the comment: "Santa Fe station Canon City CO, Monday morning September 22, 2025.  Station now used by Royal Gorge RR tourist train."
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RoyalGorgeChamberAlliance
"Originally built in 1909 as a Denver & Rio Grande train station, the facility now blends rich heritage with functional innovation."

This static display was between the Santa Fe Depot and the train platform. Recent street views show that the locomotive is no longer there. Was it removed to restore it to operation?
Barry Brooks, Jun 2018

A 2019 view had the steam locomotive, but it did not have the caboose on the left.
Street View, Oct 2023

This map showed me where to look for the DRG&W depot. But it doesn't even have the Santa Fe route.
1959 Royal Gorge Quad @ 62,500 and 1959 Cannon City Quad @ 24,000

To find the Santa Fe route, I got the oldest topo available. This reminds me that the construction workers of the two railroads battled each other for access to the Royal Gorge Canyon. 
1889 Canon City Quad @ 125,000

When the DRG&W obtained the right to use the canyon, Santa Fe went South through the Raton Pass. Since then, a more direct route was built between Kansas City and New Mexico and BNSF no longer wants to maintain the old Raton Pass route for 79mph Amtrak trains.
BNSF

The tourist trains take you on a ride in the 1000' (305m) deep canyon.
Gene M, Apr 2021

The ride takes you under the 955' (291m) high Royal Gorge Bridge (at the top of this screenshot), by the Incline Railway and over the Hanging Bridge.
0:31 video via RoyalGorgeRoute

Kingstree, SC: Amtrak/ACL Depot

(Satellite)

Street View, Sep 2014

Doug Scott posted 13 photos with the comment:
2025-09-18
  Built in 1909 for the Atlantic Coast Line, the brick building in Kingstree, South Carolina at 101 East Main Street is still an active station. This is an Amtrak stop serving the Palmetto and Silver Meteor trains. CSX owns the track here now.— at Kingstree Historic District.
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This map accurately marks the location of the depot.
1946/46 Kingstree Quad @ 62,500