The Rock Island Southern paralleled the Q on the Northside of the mainline from
Galesburg to Monmouth then swung North toward the Quad cities. Some of the
tracks at Butler manufacturing in Galesburg were RIS.
The M&StL came into Monmouth from the West ( It had a complete steam locomotive
facility including a ten stall roundhouse, 70 foot turntable, 100 ton coal
shute and a 236 car yard) crossed the Q's Northline (Rio) [was protected by a
swinging gate] a couple of blocks latter crossed the Q mainline (were Costello
tower once stood, it was replaced by an interlocking plant located in the
depot) and paralleled the Q to the East edge of Monmouth before swinging
Southeasterly. The only place the M&StL crossed old US 34 (South Main Street)
was at about 7th street.
A story about the M&StL (CN&W) crossing worth repeating. The C&NW civil
engineers were out measuring things around the diamond. They were using a steel
measuring tape, the Westbound California Zephyr (#17) was coming when they
pulled the tape across the diamond and set the signal between A and B streets
red in his face. The train was put in emergency and stopped West of the diamond
between C and D streets. Fourtunately in was a steel tape and not a train.
The Q northline has been torn up back to West Broadway. At least that was where
it was last September.
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