DECATUR IL

CLASSIC PASSENGER STATIONS

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Decatur, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Wabash Station
Opened in 1901
Location: 700 E Cerro Gordo St.
Railroads: Wabash, Baltimore & Ohio
Building still stands.

Illinois Central Station
Opened in 1900
Location: Cerro Gordo St. and Front St.
Railroads: Illinois Central, Pennsylvania Railroad
Demolished 1951.

The two stations were adjacent to each other, at the southwest quadrant of where the two railroads crossed. Previously, a Union Station existed, shared by all railroads.

WABASH RAILROAD

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 12                        Chicago         1:40 am    1:05 am
 18  Midnight              Chicago         3:20 am    2:30 am
 17  Midnight              St. Louis       4:05 am    3:17 am
  3  St. Louis Limited     St. Louis       5:03 am    4:10 am
  3                        Moberly         5:15 am
 99  (mixed train)         Granite City    6:00 am
 73  (mixed train)         Bluffs          6:30 am
  4  Detroit Special       Detroit        11:57 am   11:30 304  11:51 am
 10  Banner Blue           Chicago         2:30 pm    4:20 pm
 11  Banner Blue           St. Louis       2:39 pm    2:33 pm
  1  St. Louis Special     St. Louis       3;54 pm    1:59 301   1:40 pm
 24  Blue Bird             Chicago         7:05 pm   11:10 124   6:45 am
 21  Blue Bird             St. Louis       7:52 pm    7:17 pm
  2  Detroit Limited       Detroit         9:30 pm    9:36 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 18  Midnight              St. Louis       3:15 am    2:20 am
 17  Midnight              Chicago         3:55 am    3:07 am
  3  St. Louis Limited     Detroit         4:53 am    4:00 am
 72  (mixed train)         Bluffs         11:20 am
  4  Detroit Special       St. Louis      11:52 am   11:25 304  11:46 am
 76  (mixed train)         Karnes          2:00 pm
 10  Banner Blue           St. Louis       2:27 pm    4:17 pm
 11  Banner Blue           Chicago         2:36 pm    2:30 pm
  1  St. Louis Special     Detroit         3:49 pm    1:57 301   1:35 pm
 24  Blue Bird             St. Louis       7:02 pm   11:07 am
 21  Blue Bird             Chicago         7:49 pm    7:14 121   8:45 pm
  2                        Moberly         8:40 pm
  2  Detroit Limited       St. Louis       9:15 pm    9:16 pm
 13                        Chicago         9:35 pm    8:27 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

BALTIMORE & OHIO

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 49  (Motor Train)         Indianapolis    7:00 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 48  (Motor Train)         Indianapolis    8:55 pm
Passenger service discontinued in late 1940's.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

910  (mixed train)         Terre Haute     6:15 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

909  (mixed train)         Terre Haute    10:00 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1949.

Until the late 1930's, also using the Illinois Central Station were Illinois Central's own passenger trains.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

At Bement, 20 miles east of Decatur, the Wabash main line to Chicago diverged north. Extending west of Decatur was the Wabash main line to Hannibal and points west. The Pennsylvania Railroad branch used trackage rights over Illinois Central's Mattoon District from Hervey City, 10 miles southeast of Decatur, to Maroa, 13 miles north of Decatur.