I.C.R.R. No. 1518 Steam Locomotive - Paducah, Kentucky | Landmark Landing

 

I.C.R.R. No. 1518, taken by Jennie Moore

    Hello everyone, welcome to the blog! I've got something cool to show you. My partner Walter and I are both interested in mechanics, and we love learning its evolution throughout history. He is mainly interested in automobiles, but can appreciate it all. Me, I'm a train enjoyer. I love cars too, but something about the massive machines fascinated me from the time I was a toddler. I know I'm not helping with the stereotype that all railfans are neurodivergent, but hey, you have to admit, trains are sick. This will be hopefully the first of many trains that will be featured on the blog!

    Walter and I paid a visit to this giant when on a weekend getaway to Paducah for my birthday last autumn. Belonging to the Illinois Central Railroad (I.C.R.R.), engine no. 1518 is a 2-8-2 Mikado Engine, built by Lime Locomotive Works in 1923. As you can see in the photo above, the locomotive is also accompanied by a mail car, and a signature red caboose. Being there during the holiday season, allowed us to see the train covered in Christmas lights! I wasn't able to get a nighttime photo, but it was beautiful. 

I.C.R.R. No. 1518, taken by Jennie Moore

    This train sits near the river, just feet from the floodwall. We were able to make a full walk around the train, and take in its features. The area is clean and well maintained, the train is very clearly cared for. As I stood in its presence, I could almost hear the families giving their farewells to loved ones departing on the train. The thuds of suitcases being loaded into storage, while mail that needs carried across the state by morning is loaded on by the crate. I wonder how many young people embarked on this train to fight for our safety in WWII, and those who never returned. Maybe this train played a part in a love story, reuniting a pair of soulmates who had long been apart. Thousands of people have rode the steam power of no. 1518, all of whom lived separate lives.

    Now, she rests. Dormant, but loved by the community and used to educate the young minds who weren't here to see 1518 in her full glory. Engines like 1518 were among the first of their kind. Humans had never seen such powerful, fast moving machines before. In this era, rail service was prospering across the U.S., being singlehandedly responsible growth across the map, even creating new towns all together. Paducah was no exception, and they honor that past by having 1518 proudly on display in the heart of the city's historic district.

Info sign at rear of train, taken by Jennie Moore

    There is also a railroad museum in Paducah, not far from the train display. I haven't been myself yet, but it is on my to do list! If you are visiting the museum, you might enjoy visiting the train display as well, as the train is public and completely free to view up close. As Walter and I chatted about the display, we realized that we were viewing the train exactly 100 years after it was first built. From 1923 to 2023, no. 1518 still serves Paducah's people, just in a different way these days. Thank you all for reading, I hope you will tune in again at my next stop!

Bonne Terre, Missouri | Historic Depots

 

Bonne Terre Depot, taken by Jennie Moore

    Hello all and welcome! Today we are going to be looking at our 2nd historic railroad depot on the blog, that being one in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Off the bat, I will tell you that this is one of the most beautiful depots in southeast Missouri, and the most ornate depot I have seen in person. This structure is a gem in its community, and is one of the best examples of Bonne Terre's array of Victorian/Edwardian architecture. Built in 1909 by the Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railway, (I'll share more on that topic in future posts) it consists of two and a half stories, and boasts a mix of the Queen Anne and Stick style.

Car and Caboose beside Depot, taken by Jennie Moore

    The Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railway inaugurated their first portion of rail line in 1890, which ran from Bonne Terre to Riverside in Jefferson County. This was a time when mining in the area was in its prime, so a reliable rail route was a necessity to continue industrial growth. A depot was built in Bonne Terre in 1898, but it would be lost to fire. Its replacement would not be taken lightly, as elaborate plans for the present depot began. At its peak, the Bonne Terre Depot would see up to twelve trains per day. Activity would continue, until the 1950s when owner's St. Joseph Lead Co. moved operations westward. This would leave the once bustling station abandoned for over 30 years, despite being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Bonne Terre Depot when abandoned, unknown photographer, reach out for credit

    This was until Doug and Catherine Goergens purchased the Bonne Terre Depot in 1989, with the intentions to restore it. With demolition diverted, new life would breathe into the historic landmark. The first floor would be turned into an English style pub, known as the Whistle Stop Saloon (which is open for certain events) along with an event space. Upstairs, you can find suites, as the Depot also serves as a Bed & Breakfast. Bonne Terre is a prime location for scuba divers, as the Bonne Terre Mines is home to one of the largest underground lakes in the world. Divers need a local place to stay, and the Depot is great for just that, especially because the Depot and Bonne Terre Mines are operated by the same people.

Depot photo taken by Cletus H. Faircloth in the 1950s, courtesy of Dennis Faircloth

    The photo above was taken by the late Cletus H. Faircloth around the 1950s, which I was generously given permission to use in this article by his son, Dennis Faircloth. Dennis is knowledgeable about the Mississippi and Bonne Terre Railway, and he is kind enough to speak with me in the future for my deep dive on the rail line, and allow me to show you more photos that his father had taken. Thank you Dennis for your help, and let us all remember his father who's photos and stories will aid us in preserving local history.

Bonne Terre Depot Antique Postcard

    

    Over the past 115 years, the Bonne Terre Depot has seen its fair share of imports, exports, and passengers. It was an architectural feat of its time, and is still one the most beautiful buildings in the area today. The construction of this railroad and Depot further elevated the booming local mining industry, and brought numerous jobs to St. Francois and Jefferson Counties in a time of expansion. We have the owners of the Depot to thank for its preservation, and I'll have to agree that this building is far too important to be lost to time. Thank you all for reading and I hope you learned something new. If you have any memories of the Bonne Terre Depot to share, leave a comment!

 

Ullin, Illinois | Historic Depots

 

Historic Depot and Caboose in Ullin, IL taken by Jennie Moore

    Hello all, and welcome to a new series on the blog where we will cover one of America's most recognizable relics, the railroad depot. With thousands scattered across the country, the railroad depot has become a symbol of American life, tradition, and progress. Found in the smallest of villages to the largest of cities, the architecture and design of these buildings are a stand out within their communities. The first depot we will cover in this series, I came across by chance when traveling back from Paducah, Kentucky. While making our way through southern Illinois, we passed through the village of Ullin, and to my surprise saw this beautifully restored depot and caboose. Needless to say, I asked Walter to pull over.

    Ullin was first established around 1854, when the Illinois Central Railroad laid their line through the area. An original depot was built in 1854, but no longer exists. Another would be built in 1863, though it would meet the same fate as the first. The location of these former structures is approximately where the parking area for the current depot is today. The current depot was constructed in 1897, and provided both freight and passenger service. Ullin was a prominent exporter of limestone, lumber, and produce in it's day. After the great Chicago fire on October 8-10, 1871, lumber was sent from Ullin to help rebuilt the city of Chicago. Also among the depot's purposes, it served as a telegraph station.

    It is somewhat common to hear of historic buildings being moved to another location to be preserved, but have you heard of such buildings being moved back to its original location years later? I had not, until I began researching the Ullin Depot. After the discontinuation of passenger and freight service in Ullin, the Illinois Central Railroad sold the depot to Wilborn Goines sometime around 1970. In 1972, Mr. Goines would sell the depot to William Bruchhauser, who owned Ullin's Phoenix Flour Mill. Bruchhauser had the depot moved to the mill site, where it was used as a warehouse. After a devastating fire at the mill in 1979, William Bruchhauser relocated his business, and with the depot being deemed too expensive to move, it was left behind.

Historic Depot and Caboose in Ullin, IL taken by Jennie Moore

    An important note is that the Phoenix Flour Mill was located near the railroad tracks, and when the depot was relocated, it was placed on Illinois Central Railroad's property that was being leased to William Bruchhauser. Therefore when the depot was abandoned and the lease ran out, ownership of the building returned to the Illinois Central Railroad. After some time, I.C.R.R. shared their plans to demolish the structure, which quickly received pushback by the Ullin Village Board and the Ullin Civic Club. I.C.R.R. responded to the villages concerns with an offer, one month to move the depot, or it would be destroyed. Amazingly, the village came together, and made a miracle happen. The Village of Ullin was able to purchase the trackside former location of the depot, and soon, the building was on the move. On December 3rd, 1997, 100 years after its construction, Ullin's depot would be taken back home to its original site for restoration. 

    The same year, the city of Ullin would pass an ordinance to protect the depot, and acknowledge it as a community landmark. In 2012, the depot would also become Ullin's library, and village hall. This small structure has had quite the journey over the years, and is still adding to its resume of purposes. I love a story in which a community comes together to save what is theirs, and Ullin is a beautiful example of that. For a deep dive on the Ullin Depot, including much more information and several photos, I recommend reading this great piece by Historic Structures, by clicking here. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do!