Minonk, IL: Lost/IC Depots

Minonk: (Satellite, my guess based on Andy's photo and the aerial photo.)

Kankakee Junction south of town: (Satellite)

Minonk Depot

Andy Zukowski posted

Illinois Central Railroad Depot at Minonk, Illinois. 1912

Photo by C.U. Williams

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Digitally Zoomed

I would expect to see the depot's dormer in this 1939 photo. But we do see the platform along the east side of the tracks.

South of 4th Street between Chestnut and Oak Streets

Kankakee Junction Depot

This was the end of the southern branch of the Kankakee & SouthWest. This depot would be for people transfering between the IC Gruber Line and the branch to the east.

Richard Fiedler posted
Richard Fiedler shared

Larry Candilas commented on Richard's post
The picture is of the depot where the Pontiac District met the Charter line south of Minonk and was later called Minonk Jct.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Larry's comment
The Kankakee & SouthWest was abandoned so long ago that it is hard to find traces of it on a satellite image. I used this topo map and the town of Flanagan to confirm that it went along the field boundaries at County Road 1950N.  1958/59 Flanagan Quad @ 62,500

Dennis DeBruler commented on Larry's comment
It looks like it was gone by 1939. Or is it that smudge in the northern point of the wye? In the photo, the depot seems to be on an angle, and it appears that there is a track behind the depot, so that would put it in the northern point.

Rutland, IL: Lost/IC Depot and Grain Elevator

Depot: (Satellite) 

Elevator: (Satellite)

This is another town that has not only lost its depot, but also its railroad. But the elevator has survived.

Andy Zukowski posted

The Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Rutland, Illinois, circa 1909

Photo by CU Williams

Andy Zukowski posted
Railroad Depot in Rutland, Illinois. 1950
Bill Molony shared

Tim Howard commented on Andy's post

 

Dennis DeBruler commented on Tim's comment
So you are looking North from Market Street, https://maps.app.goo.gl/9oygzyMxaWfuQpV67. That indicates that the rectangle next to the tracks on this topo map is accurate.
1955/56 Minonk Quad @ 24,000

Jim French commented on Andy's post, cropped

Market Street is along the bottom of this aerial. I included the building north of Walnut Street that is west of the tracks because that would be the grain elevator.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Since the elevator has survived the abandonment of the railroad, I don't understand why I can't see an elevator in the background of Andy's photo. The above aerial shows the town had one a few blocks north of the depot.

Street View, May 2023

Hudson, IL: Lost/IC Depot

(Satellite, it was east of the tracks and a little south of Walnut Street.)

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Railroad going through Hudson, Illinois. 1908    Photo by CU Williams
Richard Fiedler shared

Andy Zukowski posted
Birds Eye View of the Tracks And Railroad Depot In Hudson, Illinois which is in McLean County. Postmarked 1907

Tom Cherry: Looking north out of Hudson.

Richard Fiedler shared

Larry Candilas commented on Andy's post
MP 804.8 Charter Line - 1953 from the internet

1930/30 Normal Quad @ 62,500

1940 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

This was the original charter line that was abandoned.

Lisa Ruble posted via Dennis DeBruler

The town is close to an Interstate exit and the grain elevator is rather big even though it hasn't had rail service for a long time.

Street View, Jul 2019

Satellite

"Our three receiving pits have a combined capacity of 37,000 bushels per hour along with a combined drying capacity of 11,000 bushels per hour allowing quick turn-around times for patrons during the harvest season. As a service for patrons with livestock, we have a feed mill that grinds and mixes feed for all animals, both show and commercial, using quality Hubbard Feed concentrates and complete feeds.  Our feed service include "custom" grinding/mixing of feeds that can be bagged or loaded on site in bulk." [HudsonGrain]

Forreston, IL: Lost/Milwaukee Depot and IC Connection

Depot: (Satellite)

IC over Milwaukee crossing: (Satellite)

Bridge for the connection: (Satellite)

Note that Milwaukee's depot for Forreston was a couple of miles north of the town.

Andy Zukowski posted
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Depot in Forreston, Illinois.

Richard Hammer: That's the Illinois Central overpass to the east of the depot.

Tom Lampman: Richard Hammer IC's Gruber Line. The interchange with them here sucked, even more dangerous at night. I always worried about my men on the ground here while performing that duty.

Richard Fiedler shared

Andy Zukowski posted
Chicago, Milwaukee, St.Paul & Pacific Railroad Depot in Forreston Illinois 1973

Everett Lueck: in the older shot, the overhead crossing of the Illinois Central Charter line is in the background.

Michael Zettle: Terrance Kampas Sign is owned by the Andy Anderson family here in Forreston.

Robert Detert: That depot was actually just north of town.

Larry Candilas: A few miles for sure; the depot in town was a joint IC-CB&Q depot since this was the end of the CB&Q branch from Polo.

Larry Candilas commented on Andy's post
MP 106.8 Dubuque & Illinois Division; a picture from a few years earlier.

Michael Zettle: Larry Candilas This was the first depot on the south side of the tracks. The first depot pictured was built in 1943 on the north side and the old depot was tore down. Station agent was Ole Engelbretson.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Tonica, IL: IC Depot

(Satellite)

Tonica is another town on the abandoned IC Charter Line.

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Tonica, Illinois. C1910

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Tonica, Illinois. 1950's.

Chet French: Train is southbound. Probably #375.

Richard Fiedler shared

At first, I wondered why the CB&Q wasn't closer to town. And then I noticed that it is down in a valley.

1939 Wenona Quad @ 62,500

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP
Dennis DeBruler commented on Andy's post
Perl Street now occupies the IC RoW. So the depot was in the northeast quadrant of Perl and Elm Streets. 1939 aerial

Satellite

Once again, fertilizer is an important part of the local elevator company's service.

NorthernPartners

No street driver went down the side road.

Street View, May 2018

Henkel, IL: Lost/IC Depot and Wood Grain Elevator

Depot: (Satellite)

Elevator: (Satellite)

This was another town on the abandoned IC Charter Line.

Jimmy Fiedler posted
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RR DEPOT HENKEL ILLINOIS
Richard Fiedler shared

Gary Stanford commented on Jimmy's post
Site of the late but not lamented Henkel Bridge that carried US 52 over the ICRR. Many a bad auto accident occurred on that bridge.

 

Henkel is in the lower-right corner. I include the curves in US-52 because of Gary's comment.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

This is another Illinois railroad town that never consisted of much more than a grain elevator, but that elevator has survived. Note the wooden elevator as the core this elevator.

Street View, Aug 2023

I noticed that the elevator was unusual because its expansion consists mostly of an old technology of bolted-steel silos. So I took a closer look. That is when I noticed that this is now a seed company rather than grain storage.

Street View, Aug 2023

Update:
Wesley Peters posted two photos with the comment:

Henkel, Lee County, IL

Early history unknown.

Photographed on 6/9/2024.

Photos courtesy of Wesley Peters.

1

2

Lostant, IL: Lost/IC, Junction Tower: IC vs. NYC and Lost? Kent Feed Mill

Depot: (Satellite, east of the tracks and a little south of 2nd Street.)

Tower: (Satellite, Southwest quadrant of abandoned IC and NYC Kankakee Belt)

Not only is the depot lost, but so is this charter route of the IC.

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Lostant, Illinois. 1918

A different exposure and proper credit.

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Lostant Illinois. Photo taken by C.R. Childs in 1918
Richard Fiedler shared

Larry Candilas commented on Andy's post
MP 841.8 on the Charter Line; crossing of the 3-I (NYC)

Paul Grone: Larry Candilas When did they rip up the tracks? 1980s?

Larry Candilas: NYC is still there; IC was abandoned from Heyworth which is north of Clinton all the way north to Freeport in 1984

I think the grain elevator along the IC was gone by 1939, but the one along the NS/ NYC has grown.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Note the tractor pulling two wagons on the right side of this excerpt. That is why a local elevator is important, not all farmers can afford an 18-wheeler.

Satellite

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Lostant, Illinois. C.1910  published by C.U.Williams of Bloomington,Illinois.

Larry Candilas commented on Andy's post
Lostant Tower

Larry Candilas commented on Andy's post
Crossing of the NYC Kankakee Belt

I looked along both railroad RoWs, but I could not find this.

Jacques Schytte posted
Lostant. Btw, there is a bar south of town called Dave's Lost Ant...