Thomas Dyrek 128 pages softcover
From the mid-1800s to the
early 1960s, the most integral place for Central Illinois communities
was the train depot. These buildings, home to wooden benches, telegraph
equipment, and old train schedules hanging on the wall, were the gateway
to the rest of the world. One could catch a train to almost anywhere in
the United States back in the day, but during the postwar years of
America, the railroad depot faded into history. Decreased train
ridership due to the increasing popularity of air travel and automobiles
led to thousands of these once-important buildings closing and later
being burned or torn down. From larger union depots in cities like
Bloomington and Peoria to smaller isolated stops, Central Illinois Train
Depots tells the story of buildings that once played vital roles in the
development of communities throughout Central Illinois.
