NYC Big Four Dorchester Depot

rhensley_anderson Jan 20, 2018

  1. rhensley_anderson

    rhensley_anderson TrainBoard Supporter

    1,494
    1,244
    45
    Here is another Big Four depot from the Illinois Division. The station at Dorchester, Illinois was located at milepost 27.1 on the line between Hillsboro and Lenox via Litchfield and East Alton -- believe that in the later days of the New York Central, this was known as the "Old Line." As with several of my earlier depot photos, suspect that this one is prior to 1920 -- look at all of those milk cans lined up on the platform!
    CAPT Rex Settlemoir collection

    [​IMG]
     
    Kurt Moose and Hardcoaler like this.
  2. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

    13,965
    6,903
    183
    Interesting that there is no human or daily life in the picture. Most casual photographers would include include something to add human interest. My other thought was that this was a marketing or post card photo, but the milk cans wouldn't be there because they would "destroy" that image. Perhaps the photographer's hobby was photographing buildings...who knows?
     
  3. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

    9,709
    2,730
    145
    Thanks, Roger. Reminds me of the milk runs on the Mohawk and Hudson divisions, stop at every rural station to get milk to New Yawk City.
     
  4. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

    3,595
    7,664
    80
    Railroads played such an important part in all forms of transportation in those days. Sometimes, depots were built almost for the sole purpose of consolidation of milk shipments. I know Lena, Minnesota was one such depot. No town there. just a little depot and hundreds of milk cans at various times of the day.

    Another great picture, Roger. That depot looks fairly new.

    Doug
     
  5. rhensley_anderson

    rhensley_anderson TrainBoard Supporter

    1,494
    1,244
    45
    Well, here is one from Livingston ILL that looks almost new with people.
    This Big Four depot was located at MP 215 on the main line between Mattoon and East St. Louis. Photo looks to be very early in the 20th century, probably prior to 1920. Note that the double track was still in place for this section of line, also used by the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, on trackage rights. Later, the NYC removed the double track between Pana and Lenox, when CTC was installed. Believe that this segment was one of the first TCS/CTC installations on the Big Four, and was probably done in the 1940's.
    CAPT Rex Settlemoir collection

    [​IMG]
     
    Kurt Moose and badlandnp like this.
  6. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,677
    44,870
    142
    Roger, I so much appreciate the background narrative that you add with each of your photos. Your knowledge adds dimension to what we see and doubles the value of your photographs here. Thank you!
     
  7. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

    9,709
    2,730
    145
    Perhaps one big family posing there at Livingston? Those baggage carts never changed, did they? Look the same as the ones I watched my dad pull around when he worked for the REA. I wish I had the resources of history for the Mohawk Division that you have for the Big Four, Roger.
     

Share This Page