Morris, IL Rock Island depot

FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

I heard that the Rock Island depot in Morris, IL depot was fixed up a few years ago. Has anyone been inside for a look? Is there any display space inside dedicated to Rock Island history or interpretation?

I found an exterior photo of the depot on the internet. I was surprised to see the train order signal pole still standing (stripped of all fittings). In the mid-80's I was told by a B&OCT/Chessie signal maintainer that the pole was very unsafe. Would be great if the semaphore blade from that signal is on display inside.

I'm planning a trip back to Illinois for this spring, so am trying to decide if I should check out Morris.

Thanks for any info.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

FLO -

A friend of mine, Tom Travis, has visited the Morris depot recently and probably give you better info about it. Tom posts here on occassion so I hope he sees this thread.

BTW, there are other surviving Rock Island depots on the line across Illinois, some of which have been nicely restored. So probably worth a visit to the area. And of course, there is Rock Island 4-6-2 #887 on display at the Wheels O' Time museum in Dunlap, just north of Peoria.

Les

Thomas Travis · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 4:39 pm **Posts:** 78

FLO---

Not Morris IL, but Minooka IL is where I have traveled on school bus charters. But in Minooka IL (old downtown area near the grain elevator, south of the area where
the CRIP depot must of been) I have discovered the old IT depot. Its now somesort
of shop area, but along the street it is easy to recognize the front of the building.
In back of the building, still has a concrete enclosure that housed the electrical equipment. The IT must of been street running in town, regular ROW in the country area.

If in the area of North Judson IN, visit the Hoosier Valley Museum on Saturdays. Just ask anyone for Les or myself.

BTW, FLO your picture of the WABASH hearald is interesting, I live along the old
Wabash ROW near Magee IN (PM/C&O/WABASH)since 1952. Been a Wabash
fan forever.

Tom Travis HVRM Restoration DEPT

Frank Hicks · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:55 pm

Google is a wonderful thing...

Morris, IL CRI&P depot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nebbes61/5081839596

Morris, IL IT depot/substation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30866579@N04/3772562473/

Various surviving IT structures including both Morris and Minooka depots: http://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2008/12/illinois-terminal-photo-album.html

FLO · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:07 am **Posts:** 328

Thanks for the replies! There was a thread 6 years ago about the Morris depot restoration that said good things about it, so I decided to start this thread just to follow up. Old thread is here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12498&p=56532

Les Beckman wrote:

there is Rock Island 4-6-2 #887 on display at the Wheels O' Time museum in Dunlap, just north of Peoria.

Thanks. Will check that out.

Thomas Travis wrote:

If in the area of North Judson IN, visit the Hoosier Valley Museum on Saturdays. Just ask anyone for Les or myself.
... I live along the old Wabash ROW near Magee IN (PM/C&O/WABASH)since 1952. Been a Wabash
fan forever.

My connection to the Wabash is very distant. My great grandfather had a shop building in Pontiac, IL, for his construction business (circa 1920's-1930's), and it had a siding to it that came off the Wabash. That would have been the Wabash branch to Streator, IL. He'd get single carload shipments of materials, like cement, delivered by the Wabash local.

Thank you for that invitation to visit the HV Museum.

Frank Hicks wrote:

Various surviving IT structures including both Morris and Minooka depots: http://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2008/12/illinois-terminal-photo-album.html

Thanks for those links, Frank. So much to see in Illinois.