Interesting story on the Winfield, Ill. depot, a little different than the usual "save our hometown depot story" because of its age. Built in 1849, it's really old. Did the ancient Pioneer 4-2-0 visit here in the building's early days?

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intid=3775732
ryarger@rypn.org

> Interesting story on the Winfield, Ill.
> depot, a little different than the usual
> "save our hometown depot story"
> because of its age. Built in 1849, it's
> really old. Did the ancient Pioneer 4-2-0
> visit here in the building's early days?

Certainly. The same is true of the Marengo depot (1852?) now at East Union. And the original depot at West Chicago was moved to a park. There may be others from the C&GU, but I can't think of any right now.

But thanks for asking!

>
Did the ancient Pioneer 4-2-0
> visit here in the building's early days?

The Pioneer was used in line construction, but except in the first few months of the G&CU's existance it was rarely used in freight or passenger service. It was leased to the Aurora Branch (CB&Q) and then went back to construction work. The C&NW often used it to pull ceremonial first trains on its branches and after the 1893 Columbian Exposition it roamed the system for PR purposes. I've seen accounts of trips made under its own power to Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown. So the pioneer visited many stations--but not in regular service.

One station of note the Pioneer didn't visit under its own power was Chicago's first railroad station, despite later paintings depicting such an event. The City of Chicago had an ordiance prohibiting the operation of steam locomotives within the city limits until about 1851. From Western Avenue (the western city limits) trains were pulled by mule power. The small yard for the change in motive power and servicing the locomotived migrated slightly west over time and became the California Avenue shops. The yard still exists.

fred_ash@bankone.com