Rome, GA: "Cannon Lathe," Southern Depot and Freight House and Flour Mill

Cannon Lathe: (Satellite? couldn't find it.)

Depot, current location: (Satellite, this depot has been moved from Reeves, GA.)

Freight House: (Satellite)

Flour Mill: (Satellite)
 

Randall Thompson posted
This huge and ancient lathe sits in a city park in Rome, Georgia. Built around 1850, It was in a foundry and iron works which was operated by Samuel Noble and his sons, prior to the Civil War. They made various equipment and machinery, including at least one locomotive. This machine is typical of what would have been used to turn the axles and drivers of a steam engine of the period. There is also a Corliss steam engine under the shed. It is not the original, but is the same type that was used to power the Noble works. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the Nobles started making cannon and other war material for the Confederacy. This machine is referred to locally as the "Cannon Lathe," and was no doubt used for that, although it's quite a bit different from a true cannon lathe. This output caught the attention of the US army, and the entire works was burned and destroyed. After the war, Noble located fresh iron ore deposits a hundred or so miles to the west and re-established there, becoming one of the founders of the present day city of Anniston, Alabama, where I was born and grew up. When I was there, in the 1950's and 60's, there were still numerous foundries and machine shops.

Update: The south seem to have great respect for cannon lathes

John Abbott posted
Cannon-lathe-Auburn
Bob Gaston The historic lathe sits next to Samford Hall on Auburn University's campus in Auburn, Alabama.
[I could not find it on a satellite image or street view. I wonder if it has been added in the last year or so.]

Gary Miller posted two photos with the comment: "2 depots in Rome, GA. Both were originally used by the Southern RR."

Gary Miller: The passenger depot was moved from Reeves, GA & is now the Visitors Center. The freight depot is now owned by a private business.

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I spent some time looking for the buildings along the mainline. Then I noticed the 2nd & 2nd street signs in the freight house photo. Southern had a spur that served the downtown. The flour mill has expanded over the tracks that used to serve the freight house.

1968 Rome South and 19676 rome North Quads @ 24,000

This would have been the track side because of the bay window for the agent's desk. 

Street View, Feb 2024

Street View, Apr 2024

Obliviously, the flour mill is rail served. I presume it receives grain via rail and ships product with trucks.

Street View, Mar 2024

Lawrence Weinzimer, Nov 2024

Vandalia, IL: Vandalia Railroad

Vandalia Railroad is a 3-mile remnant of the original Illinois Central route that gave meaning to the "Central" part of the name. It appears that the junction tower with the CSX/Pennsy has been preserved as their office. I noticed the Google road map is incorrect concerning the IC abandonment. Looking at a satellite image, there is an industrial spur running north to a quarry at County Road 1800 N. It passes All Steel Products just north of I-70 and other industries along this spur, for example a plastics factory(?). Since Class 1 railroads hate non-unit train traffic, I tried to determine if a shortline operates the IC remnant. From a 2012 IDOT map I learned it is VRRC. It uses an EMD SW9 that was built in April, 1959 (TheDieselShop).

These are two of several photos posted by Eric Berger.

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Satellite

When this satellite image was taken, they were using their northern end to store tank cars. Google's road map doesn't show any of the track, but a study of a satellite image indicates they have quite a bit of siding/yard track. Three tank cars were on the connector with CSX. A Street View of the connector shows MoW equipment. It is good to know that they are maintaining the track. Turning that Street View west shows the CSX tracks on the left. The railroad cross bucks should be removed. They are now a false warning.

The engine is an EMD SW9 built 4/50. The serial number of 9786 is the first 4-digit serial number I remember seeing. It was L&N 2271. [TheDieselShop]

Update:

Illinois Railroad Pictures posted
Side View of Vandalia Railroad offices and locomotive 2017

Illinois and Missouri Railroad Pictures added
2022. Vandalia IL Rail Yard

John P. Kohlberg posted
Looking west on the PRR at Vandalia, Ill., circa mid-1950's, Red Border Kodachrome, no name on the slide.
IC depot and diamond; as well as PRR crossing tower and interlocking tower are in the distance.
[Note the three horizontal yellow lights of Pennsy's positional signal indicating "Stop."]

Lisa Ruble posted
June 2026

Evansville, IN: CSX Evansville/C&EI Wansford Yard, Coaling Tower and Roundhouse

(Satellite) 

Lots of photos and some maps

This yard is west of US-41 and would explain why I saw 4 switchers parked there. According to a comment by Mike McDonald on a post, CSX has changed to the name to Evansville Yard. And they sold the land that had the steam engine servicing facility to the county.

20150116-18 0057

The former Whirlpool plant is on the east side of US-41. I believe it used to make refrigerators for Sears Kenmore as well as its own brand. A friend whose father worked their told me that the local union leaders were such a pain that management moved the work to other factories that had more reasonable labor leadership and closed this factory. The building has been subdivided for other industries, so I was surprised that their sign is still over the entrance.

Update:

Jimmy Fiedler shared
This photo from the C&EI Historical Society archives shows the coaling tower at Wansford north of Evansville in 1927. The roundhouse and steam engine service facility was built a few miles north of the Evansville city yard to replace the old facilities near downtown Evansville. The railroad bought enough land at Wansford to build a new classification yard there in 1950. Wansford yard still exists in 2017 minus a few of the classification tracks.
[Note the roundhouse in the background.]
C&EIRHS posted
The new C&EI coaling tower at Evansville's Wansford Yard in 1927. The new roundhouse and turntable are visible in the background. Prior to 1927, locomotives were serviced downtown near the passenger and freight stations. The new Wansford freight classification yard was opened in 1950.
Joe Mills: I work a local out of Wansford now. Only 5 tracks left.

Screenshot

Screenshot

Screenshot

Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society posted
Back cover of the 1950 C&EI Annual Report.

Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society shared two photos, "Wansford yard Evansville Indiana. From my father's pictures, 1965."

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Dave Cantrell posted

1930, C &E I (Chicago and Eastern Illinois) locomotive no. 3643 on the turntable at Wansford Yard in Evansville. The Vanderburgh County Jail at 3500 N. Harlan Ave. is currently on this site.

USI Digital Library - Thomas Mueller Collection

Dave Cantrell commented on his posting
1958 aerial photo of the roundhouse.
Dennis DeBruler This shows the location of the coaling tower as well.

Dave Cantrell commented on his posting
urntable missing in 1973 and only part of building remains

Patrick McNamara commented on a post
Electro-Motive poster from the 50s - art by Bern Hill...
Robert Gibson Jr. Wansford Yard in Evansville, Indiana built in 1950.

1 of 6 photos posted by Michael Krejci
In Evansville, IN. First time I've seen a road slug and a cool old Chessie cab. Also a cool looking switcher in the yard.
Justin Slaton: Old c&ei wansford yard. They run 2 locals out of there. One of them handles auto racks at the Toyota plant in Princeton.
Dennis DeBruler shared
In the CSX/C&EI Wansford Yard in Evansville, IN.

Comments on Michael's post

Chicago Heights, IL: B&OCT Depot

Scott Griffith posted
Bob Lalich thanks for sharing this pic
[This looks much more elaborate than the above depot. ]

Another postcard made from the same photo.

Steven Bruns posted

These photos look a lot different.

Scott Griffith posted two photos:

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Chicago, IL: Coca-Cola/Color Communications building

Scott Griffith posted
Coca-Cola plant
Henry Freeman Thanks Scott. I had seen this plant, which used to be a syrup plant for Coca-Cola. I'm pretty sure Les Wuollett used to switch this plant. It's currently the home. of Color Communications, Inc.Les Wuollett Yes! And General Foods is just west of it.

History is so much easier if a building still exists. Note that it still has the elevated industrial spur that went into an upper story. And the fire-fighting water tower still exists!

3D Satellite

Chicago, IL: 1940's Video

A posting of a 1940's video about Chicago. It has some great scenes of railroads and boats.

The opening scene is a panorama of Michigan Avenue which includes IC facilities in the foreground. Note how dirty some of the buildings were because of coal smoke. Wrigley must have used a lot of labor to keep its terra cotta finish white.

Screenshot at -9:30

Momence, IL: Pence (MJ) Tower: UP/C&EI vs. NS/NYC+Aban/Milw

(Satellite)
NorthAmericanInterlockings:     1986    1991 interior

(Update: pp. 64-67 of Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad In Color by Edward M. DeRouin called this the M.G. Tower. Then it explained that the tower was renamed Pence prior to 1974.)

Mark Hinsdale posted
"Pence" Tower (C&EI-NYC), Momence IL 3-73
Mark Bilecki Sr. I was there 1 time, but the tower was closed already, the old Milwaukee Joliet line came through there also, they used trackage rights on Conrail to Delmar jct a few miles east of there

It looks like a remnant of the Milw/Chicago, Milwaukee & Gary (CM&G) is now what is called a transloading facility, which used to be called team tracks.

Brian Knight posted
A U.P. coal train changing crews behind the soon to be demolished MJ tower at Momence Illinois early 1997.
Michael Schwiebert shared
Wonder when the last time this was done?
Larry Amaloo: UP and NS still do crew changes there on that connection.
Michael Schwiebert: Larry Amaloo Thanks! I didn’t realize the power plant at Wheatfield got coal from the south any more.
Larry Amaloo: Michael Schwiebert It won't be for much longer, that power plant is slated to shut down in time.

The CM&G joined the NYC's Kankakee Belt just before crossing in the C&EI and then ran north of the NYC to Delmar Junction.

1939 Aerial Photo form ILHAP

Two of 16 photos posted by Eric Berg.
Richard Schroeder to all, most of the photos, especially the ones noted as Bob McQuowen, are from the C&EI HS Archives and furnished to allow the citizens of the Momence area see their railroad history.

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C&EI Momence "MG" tower looking north in 1935.

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SB C&EI #61 picking up the coach track at Momence (ca. 1960, C&EI #1201, Bob McQuown

Larry Candilas commented on a post

Stan Sienicki posted
Momence, IL. Sept. 1987 C&EI(UP)-NYC(CR) Interlocking tower.

John Eagan posted
L&N bay window caboose 6180 clatters across the Conrail track at Pence Tower in Momence, IL on 4-28-1984. Behind me the CM&G would have connected to the NYC to cross the C&EI, and then branch off to the right to go north and west. Photo by John Eagan (1)
Phil Boldman I hi railed across this diamond on the n y c side hundreds of times.

Mark Hinsdale posted

"Three Eye"

The Kankakee Belt Line was a short cut for trains to reach several western connections without entering the Chicago Terminal District. Originally built as the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroad (II&I or "3-I"), the route headed southwest from South Bend IN and traced a near half arc west and north, intersecting with most roads exiting Chicago toward the south and west. Vanderbilt's New York Central gained control of the II&I at the turn of the twentieth century, and, although trimmed back on both of its ends over the decades, successors Penn Central, Conrail and Norfolk Southern continue to utilize it for selected trains between Elkhart and the BNSF "Transcon" connection at Streator IL. One of those daily westbound manifest trains during the Penn Central era is shown here, taken from Pence Tower, in Momence IL, which guarded the crossing of the Kankakee Belt, a Milwaukee Road branch, and the joint Missouri Pacific-Louisville & Nashville route that was formerly the Chicago & Eastern Illinois main line. The train has a healthy cut of new automobiles on the head end, which will undoubtedly benefit from avoiding the always pesky rock throwers in greater Chicagoland. This train will turn onto the Santa Fe at Streator and make for Kansas City. March, 1973 photo by Mark Hinsdale

Wayne Hudak I do believe there is at least one daily Elkhart-Streator BNSF connection. I see one on the CSX Porter Branch daily (ex Michigan Central). My guess is it catches the connection of the old "Egyptian" line at Hammond and heads south to the former II&I at Schnieder IN then heads west. Could that be?

Eric Berg posted
An eastbound Milwaukee Road train comes off the CM&G and briefly onto the NYC at Pence tower at the crossing of the C&EI in 1964 with Milw #639 and a train from the arsenal near Manhattan. Robert McQuown photo.

Robert Jordan posted
May 1968 PC(NYC)Eastbound at Pence Tower(MJ), crossing C & EI. Momence, Il. Kankakee Belt, Terry Norton Photo.
Charles Heraver: Interesting train order board.
Robert Jordan: Charles Heraver Train Order Rule 221(C) I am told.
Dennis DeBruler: I've seen several action shots of train orders being manually hooped up, but this is the first one I've seen that shows an Iron Man in action. Of course, the lower hoop is for the conductor.
Cerita Sakura posted

An Eastbound Penn Central train is spotted at Pence Tower (MJ), crossing the C&EI at Momence, IL. Kankakee Belt, Train Order Rule 221(C) is in effect. May 14th, 1968.

Photo Credit to Robert Jordan.

Robert Sherry: Was this tower staffred by C&EI or NYC?

Mark Dallas: Robert Sherry NYC

Ray Peacock: I believe Robert Jordan scanned this slide taken by Terry Norton.

Edward Kwiatkowski shared

Ed Benton: More than likely coming back from Streator with glass bottles from either Owens Brockway or Thatchers Glass possibly a load of Bricks or fertilizer from Smith Douglass or it could be an interchange train from the Santa Fe.

Noah Haggerty posted three photos with the comment: "Photos from February 13, 1980 show the Chicago & Eastern Illinois's "Pence" Tower at Momence, IL. Here, the now joint MP/L&N double-track crosses the N&W. The Milwaukee Road also had trackage rights over the N&W from roughly two miles east of here, to just after the crossing in the third photo. Unknown photographer, Thomas Dyrek Collection."

Grayson Warbritton: It was Conrail, former New York Central, during the year mentioned time not N&W.

Larry Graham: Crossed the Three I! NYC Streator to Elkhart.

Joseph Tuch Santucci: MJ tower on Conrail

Tim Shanahan shared

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There were three towers in town:

The town also had 3 interlocking towers that all were on the C&EI...."MG" tower (called Pence since 1978) was built in 1893 and was located at the crossing of the C&EI / NYC-CM&G and lasted until 1999. MG 34 lever frame. "MJ" tower (initially called "River Jct. and later named "Momence Jct., or MJ) was built in 1891 and was located just south of the river bridges at the location where the CA&S and the C&EI connected. MJ had a 40 lever frame. Finally, "MS" tower was installed at Momence Yard in 1906 and was located at the current location of the new CPI 051 - Momence just south of town. MS had a 20 lever frame. [Eric Berg posting]

More photos are in Eric Bergs posting.

Eric Berg posted another set of photos.