Greetings Bob Herrick and list:
Just a few quick observations on the Q/C&I branch to Forreston.
In a message dated 8/22/01 6:31:03 am, rherrick01@e... writes:
<<1920-era Q timetables show an operator on duty at Forreston but Val records
state the Q had trackage rights over the IC to enter town, leading to
speculation that the Q utilized the IC depot.>>
My county plat book from ca. 1920 shows the Q ran parallel to the IC for
about two miles and connected with the IC inside the Forreston town limits.
The town is not shown in detail. The ca. 1933 photos I have of the depot
show two tracks on the east side and at least one on the west. Just to
speculate: The eastside tracks extend far enough north it's possible these
are the Q main and siding with the IC connection north of the depot. Also
possible the tracks on the east side are the IC and Q lines with the
connection a little north of the depot. If that's the case, the Q local in
the photos is departing from the IC main. The depot is simply lettered
FORRESTON in dark letters with no indication of IC or Q.
<<The timetables also indicate the presence of a turntable and water,
but no coal. It seems unlikely the IC would need a turntable at
Forreston, given the nearness of the Freeport yard. Perhaps the Q
owned the turntable and tank and utilized the IC depot.>>
Kett's History of Ogle County (1878) states on pp. 585-86 in re the C&I:
"The same depot is used for both that and the Illinois Central Railroad. The
"round house," or engine house was erected by both companies in 1872, each
company having six stalls. It is in charge of A. R. McElhiney, of the
I.C.R.R., and Henry Williams of the C. & I. R. R."
<<...what equipment would have been used on this branch to accommodate
passengers in mixed train service? ... Perhaps passengers rode in the
waycar.>>
My fuzzy photos suggest only a waycar behind a string of gondolas, but
there's not enough detail to be sure. In earlier days (pre-Chicago,
Burlington & Northern), this was a busy main line which I would assume
included separate passenger service.
<<Thirdly, since there were no steam tie-up facilities at Forreston,
Mount Morris, Oregon or Rochelle, would the mixed trains have operated from
Eola/Autora?>>
The son of conductor Jim Kereven told me his dad worked Forreston-Rochelle.
The family moved to Rochelle about 1933 as or shortly before the line beyond
Mt. Morris was abandoned.
<<Perhaps the R-class held down the mainline freights and the H and K classes
were used for locals and branchlines.>>
My photos of what is supposed to be the last Q train out of Forreston show a
K-10 Ten Wheeler, possibly 956 or 958. Another undated photo in my
collection shows engineer F. E. VanVleet who worked out of Forreston in what
is supposed to be a K-class engine. Not enough detail shown to be sure.
Bob: Send me an address and I'll send you scans of the photos. Most are
copy prints from small originals, so they aren't real sharp. I copied them
from an album belonging to a Forreston native (now deceased) who led the
drum-and-bugle corps playing for the final Q departure.
Regards,
Bill Diven
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