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Jeff Rankin is an outstanding historian and author. He has done more to preserve and share Monmouth history than any person I have known. I supplied him with the color photographs of the depot demolition. The photographs were taken by my Grandpa C.P. Toal when he was 84 years old. The razing of the station was a sad day for my Grandpa. His family was deeply rooted in the CB&Q Railroad: 1871-1888: C.P. Toal's Grandfather Michael Gallagher was born in County Mayo, Ireland in 1840 and emigrated to the United States in 1869. He lived in Cincinnati for one year before moving to Monmouth, IL where he became a section boss on the Q in Monmouth, IL. He was tragically killed when he was struck by a locomotive. 1884-1937: C.P. Toal's Uncle James Costello (married to his father J.D. Toal's sister Susan) was born in England and emigrated to Monmouth, IL as an infant. He had to start working at age 11 upon the death of his father. He was originally hired by the Burlington Railroad as a telegraph lineman in April 1884 at Galesburg. He soon was transferred to engine service and was assigned as fireman in November 1887. Two years later, he was advanced to locomotive engineer. James was was appointed roundhouse foreman at Monmouth April 1, 1897 and, on March 1, 1903, he was made local yardmaster. His railroad service record also shows appointments as assistant trainmaster of the Ottumwa Division on August 1, 1925 and agent at Monmouth on July 1, 1931. His retirement on pension was registered March 31, 1937. 1889-1937: C.P. Toal's father Joseph (J.D.) Toal started railroading in the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul (CM&StP) roundhouse in Minneapolis, MN on October 17, 1887. In the Spring of 1889, he began station work on the CB&Q and on January 4, 1890 he entered train service as a fireman. He was promoted to extra engineer on March 28,1893 and became a regular engineer on December 1, 1901. He ran the switch in Monmouth from March 1893 until the switch engine was discontinued on June 3, 1933. For more than forty years of his railroad career, J.D. passed over countless thousands of miles of track but was seldom out of sight of his hometown. Upon discontinuance of the switching run, J.D. took the passenger run between Galesburg, IL and Ottumwa, IA. The run called for a trip west from Galesburg on Train No. 179, leaving there mid-morning and reaching Ottumwa mid-afternoon. The next day, he would bring Train No. 178 back from Ottumwa to Galesburg. He retired as the oldest man in seniority standing in the Ottumwa Division. 1918-1927: My Grandpa C.P. Toal started working for the Q as a telegrapher in 1919 and worked there nine years. In 1927, he left to take a position at the National Bank of Monmouth, where he continued working until his retirement. My Grandpa had a deep and abiding love of the railroad that was such a huge part of his family. He went to the depot almost every evening to visit with old friends and keep his fingers on the pulse of the Q. As a child, he would take me to the depot with him to watch the Denver Zephyr come through. Invariably, he would check his watch and comment on whether she was on time or tardy. Other Toal family members worked for the CB&Q in the late 19th Century. The 1886 Monmouth City Directory listed John A. (Jack) Toal (J.D.'s brother) as an engineer, but he spent most of his railroad life in Montana, building the Great Northern Railroad. William Toal (also J.D.'s brother) was a lineman for the Q who kept the telegraph lines running. Leo Costello (James Costello's son) worked as a fireman on the Q for several years before pursuing other business interests. Carroll Toal, Jr. worked in Costello Tower for a few years.  Leo and Everett Costello standing on the west side of Costello Tower, named after their father James Costello.  J.D. Toal is the engineer in the cab. James Costello is holding the flag on the left and his son, Leo Costello, is holding the flag on the right side of this photo. The occasion of this photo was Leo's return from WWI. -- Peter S. Weber Great Grandson of CB&Q Engineer _._,_._,_ Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#60955) | Reply To Group | Reply To Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic _._,_._,_
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