Crews from Kirk C & D Recycling Inc. used two large excavators to pull the warehouse down, with the station section of the building being the last to go. Tom Kirk said the water department meter for the station was numbered “13,” alluding to the building’s 100-year history.
Located just north of the former Nickel Plate Road line, now operated as Norfolk Southern’s Bloomington District, the building last housed Capodice Produce, which stopped using the building in the mid 1990s. The Illinois Traction line through Bloomington saw its last run in 1953.
Many former Illinois Traction depots and substations have been preserved or still stand. The depot at Mackinaw is home to several shops, while the village of Union in Logan County still has a combination depot substation standing.
R.I.P.
The C&A freight depot is still being used for non-rail purposes.
There is still rusted out lightweight interurban rail crossing Madison Street next to the old freight house. And if you look really close, the diamond from the street line crossing the freight line is still there in the street. Until the City of Bloomington tears out and repaves South Madison, the diamond will stay there as a reminder even if the building is gone.
Another reason for me wanting to come home to Bloomington-Normal has disappeared. First the IT itself, then the IC, then the P&E, the C&A shop complex, the C&A depot, and now the IT depot. Bloomington has now divested itself of most of its railroad heritage. All that is left is the NKP 639 in the park.
Caterpillar bulldozers made in East Peoria are being hauled
When was it built?
It looks like the NS train is hauling locally produced machines.
its sad to see it g hopefully for every 1 one we lose we can save 3 others
Sad to see a part of history disappear, but the photo kind of makes it look like it was on the verge of collapse.