Streator Station was a train station located in Streator, Illinois, United States. It was served by numerous Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) passenger trains during its heyday. Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) served the station until 1996 with the Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles daily. When the Burlington Northern Railroad and the AT&SF railways merged, BNSF built a connecting track between the two main lines east of Cameron, Illinois, (known as the Cameron Connector).[2][3] This allowed passenger trains to change from the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) main line to the Southern Transcon freely. This along with the amendment of a stretch of track that was essential for getting to Chicago Union Station[1] forced Amtrak to reroute the Southwest Chief to bypass Chillicothe and Streator.
Streator, IL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former Amtrak and AT&SF station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The station depot in Streator in March 2017. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 213 North Illinois Street Streator Illinois 61364  United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°07′23″N 88°49′28″W / 41.1230°N 88.8245°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | BNSF Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | At-grade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | August 1, 1996[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2013, the station received upgrades by BNSF Railway including "a new roof, brickwork, tuck-pointing, and new windows."[4]
World War II Canteen Monument
editStreator Station is home to a monument that honors the volunteers who served millions of soldiers and sailors passing by on troop trains. The canteen was open from November 26, 1943 to May 29, 1946 and served an estimated 1.5 million soldiers and sailors. The troops would be fed by volunteers boarding the train while it was serviced.[5] The statue was unveiled on November 11, 2006.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ a b Cherrington, Rex (20 Jun 1996). "Did Galesburg businessmen really need to pay to bring the Santa Fe Railway to Town?". The Zephyr. Retrieved 1 Feb 2011.
- ^ "Galesburg to Streator". Retrieved 1 Feb 2011.
- ^ Pulliam, John (21 Dec 2009). "Galesburg Amtrak service detoured". Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 15 Apr 2011.
- ^ "Former Santa Fe Streator depot upgraded". Trains. NewsWire. 28 Feb 2013. Retrieved 17 Jul 2013.
- ^ "Streator Canteen". geocaching.com. Retrieved 8 Jan 2014.
- ^ "Coffee Pot Lady Unveiled in Illinois". roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 8 Jan 2014.
- ^ "WWII Canteen Monument". streator.org. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 1 Feb 2011.