Wapella, IL: Lost/IC Depot and Wood & Modern Grain Elevators

Depot: (Satellite)

Wood Elevator: (Satellite)

Andy Zukowski posted

Illinois Central Depot, Wapella, Illinois 1/15/1966

Photo from the Barry Lennon Collection

Larry Candilas: MP 777.9 Charter Line

1941 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

I didn't think that locomotive had a CN livery. But about a day after I saw this photo, I saw an orange, standard-cab locomotive parked south of Otto Tower along the former-IC mainline. And then I remembered that CN bought EJ&E, and EJ&E used to have orange locomotives.

Street View, Aug 2025

This map indicates that CN still owns this route to Heyworth, which also has a large grain elevator.

CN

I happened to catch three locomotives parked in town.

Satellite

Note the yellow fall protector on the right. That implies that this elevator gets rail service. In fact, this elevator, and the one in Heyworth, IL, are probably why this segment of the Charter Line still exists.

Street View, Aug 2013

Street View. May 2023

And spreading chemicals on the fields is also a big business in this town.

Street View, Aug 2013