Re: [CBQ] Brighton, Ill CB&Q depot

["cbqbill1x via groups.io" <kybillhusb=gmail.com@groups.io>]

No photo.  But an interesting history.

The St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railroad (StLRIC) did operate the line that passed through Brighton, but it was essentially a short-lived predecessor to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q), which is the name most associated with that specific depot.

Here is the breakdown of the lineage:

The StLRIC and the CB&Q Connection

1. Original Construction: The route passing through Brighton was originally chartered by the Rockford, Rock Island & Saint Louis Railroad in the 1850s and completed in the 1860s.

2. The St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago (StLRIC): This company was the successor that purchased the line after the original failed. The StLRIC operated the St. Louis-to-Rock-Island route in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

3. Acquisition by the CB&Q: Critically, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) acquired the St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railroad and its route in the early 1880s.

Therefore, the StLRIC was the corporate entity responsible for the line and its infrastructure just prior to the CB&Q takeover. It is highly likely that the structure built by the StLRIC was the same one used and later maintained by the CB&Q, or a station was built under the StLRIC's ownership shortly before the acquisition.

In summary: While the StLRIC was the builder or first operator of the infrastructure, the depot and service that people in Brighton would remember best was under the CB&Q banner, as the CB&Q owned and operated the line for a much longer period (from the 1880s until its discontinuance).

This line was separate from the Chicago & Alton (C&A) main line that still runs through Brighton today (now Union Pacific/Amtrak).

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), commonly known as the Burlington Route or "The Q," did have a presence and a station in Brighton, IL.

While the primary, long-standing line through Brighton was the Chicago & Alton (C&A) route, the CB&Q operated a separate line that ran through the area, giving the small village a connection to two major railroads at one point in time.

Key Details on the CB&Q Line:

• Route: The CB&Q line that passed through Brighton was part of a route that ran from St. Louis north, passing through towns like East Alton, Brighton, and Medora, before connecting further north toward Concord/Jacksonville, Illinois.

• Station: As Brighton was listed as a station on the CB&Q timetable (according to historical records from the mid-20th century), the railroad did maintain a station or depot for passenger and/or freight services there.

• Abandonment: This particular CB&Q line was ultimately abandoned. Historical discussion indicates that the line segment between St. Louis and the northern junction was discontinued, with passenger service ending in the early 1960s and the rail line itself being abandoned around 1980.

Difference from the Main Line

It is important to remember that this CB&Q line was separate from the line that currently runs through Brighton.

• Current Rail Line: The active, high-speed rail line and the current Amtrak station in Brighton is on the historic Chicago & Alton (C&A) right-of-way, which is now owned by Union Pacific (UP).

• CB&Q Line: The CB&Q line and its station are part of a route that has been taken out of service.

The fact that Brighton was served by both the C&A and the CB&Q made it a significant local rail junction.

References: https://gemini.google.com/app/8359b428e79d4c8e

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