275 – The “New” Rock Island Railroad Terminal
Peoria Landmark #275
*Photo by “LeTUMBA”
I couldn’t find any information about the “new” Rock Island Depot, so I’ll do what I like to do best and let the commenters tell the story…
This is the last terminal for the Rock Island Railroad passenger service to Chicago from Peoria. The depot used before this one is what is now known as the River Station.
SD:
This depot was built in 1960. It is commonly known as the new/old Rock Island Depot. The inside has been gutted. Before the Park district was using it for storage bums went in and stripped all the copper wire out and anything else that they could sell. There is a tower room there that was used for the railroad. In front of this is a switch table that was used with the round house that was there at one time. Currently the Park district uses the building to store equipment, in exchange for keeping the grounds up for the city. Constitution Gardens is adjacent to the depot. This entire outfit is on the grounds of what was the original Peoria Riverfront Park. You can park in the parking lot and walk around the building and enjoy Constitution Gardens and the river and have lunch or just hang out.
February 8th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
This is the last terminal for the Rock Island Railroad passenger service to Chicago from Peoria. The depot used before this one is what is now known as the River Station.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Correct.
I would like to see the inside of this building, but I don’t know who to contact at the Park District. I would also like to find a picture of the Rocket as it is stopped here to pick up passengers.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:30 am
This depot was built in 1960. It is commonly known as the new/old Rock Island Depot. The inside has been gutted. Before the Park district was using it for storage bums went in and stripped all the copper wire out and anything else that they could sell. There is a tower room there that was used for the railroad. In front of this is a switch table that was used with the round house that was there at one time. Currently the Park district uses the building to store equipment, in exchange for keeping the grounds up for the city. Constitution Gardens is adjacent to the depot. This entire outfit is on the grounds of what was the original Peoria Riverfront Park. You can park in the parking lot and walk around the building and enjoy Constitution Gardens and the river and have lunch or just hang out.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Thanks SD.
Too bad about the bums stripping the guts out of the building. I wondered of there had been a mural painted on the wall inside of the building. I still would like to find a photo of the Rocket loading passengers at this building.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I can remember people racing the Rocket up 29…. those were the days!
February 9th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
That is pretty cool. How far North did they go? Chillicothe?
February 10th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I remember somebody inviting me to a model railroad show setup in that building around about 1998 or so.
February 12th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
It appears to be in good shape. Aside from the cost, why doesn’t the city use that building for something other than storage?