(Got sent before I proofed it - slippery send button! Sorry)
This was a CB&Q branch (built as the Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley =
OOFR) orignally running up west bank of Fox R from Aurora to Geneva (joined
C&NW near present Metra depot) but abandoned from Geneva to Batavia in early
1900's and then from Batavia (terminated at that foundry that had a big fire
in 1980's) to No. Aurora was abandoned in early 1970's. Still can see parts
of old trestle on No side of Mooseheart campus and their depot is still in
place (Spanish style architecture & tile roof). ROW can be seen thru parts
of Mooseheart & Batavia. The Mooseheart orphans & Moose members had big
outings via CB&Q (there are pics in their museum). At No. Aurora horses
were once brought to racetrack by the CB&Q - now line ends just south of
there in the NIFA industrial park. The Barber-Greene plant, closed in
1980's,is now a break bulk lumber yard with regular BN service (Or did have
when last I was there). There is also a Q branch up the east bank as far as
W. Chicago - actually the original CB&Q (Aurora Branch) pre-1864. This is
intact to south side of WeGo but no longer goes as far as C&NW (UP). THe
Q's Batavia depot from that branch is now located on W side of Batavia on
abandoned ROW of old C&NW branch that once ran from St. Charles to Aurora.
Batavia also has a preserved CB&Q wood waycar as does Mooseheart. Loss of
coal traffic to the Mooseheart power plant (converted) was one cause of
abandonment. In the good old days they had 3 raillines going past: CB&Q on
campus and C&NW & CA&E on E side. Now none! Gerald Edgar
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