Freeport station (Illinois)

Freeport station is a former train station in Freeport, Illinois. It was in use from 1849 to 1971 and 1974 to 1981.

Freeport, IL
Freeport station in 1981
General information
Location239 East Stephenson Street
Freeport, Illinois
Coordinates42.29970°N 89.61510°W / 42.29970; -89.61510
Line(s)Freeport Subdivision
History
Opened1853 (C&NW), 1855 (IC), February 13, 1974 (Amtrak)[1]
Closed1949 (C&NW) April 30, 1971 (Illinois Central)[2]
September 30, 1981 (Amtrak)[3]
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Warren
toward Dubuque
 Black Hawk
1974–1981
 Rockford
toward Chicago
Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station
Eleroy
toward Sioux City
 Sioux City – Chicago Evarts
toward Chicago
Terminus Freeport – Centralia South Freeport
toward Centralia
Scioto Mills
toward Madison
 Madison – Freeport Terminus
Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station
Terminus Freeport Branch Ridott
toward West Chicago

History

The Chicago and North Western Railway opened its Freeport Branch in 1849, followed by the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1853. The two railroads eventually shared a station, while the Milwaukee Road used a separate station across the Pecatonica River. The station served Illinois Central's Hawkeye, Iowan, Land O'Corn, and Sinnissippi trains. Passenger service ceased upon the formation of Amtrak in 1971, but resumed between Chicago and Dubuque in 1974 under the name Black Hawk.[4][5] Service ceased again on September 30, 1981.[3] The depot still stands as a business. Plans for the restoration of the Black Hawk occurred in the early 2010s, but they were postponed indefinitely in 2014.

References
  1. Gilbert, David (February 14, 1974). "Iron Horse Returns". The Chicago Tribune. pp. 3–14. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. Burnett, Maxine (May 2, 1971). "'The Hawkeye' Bids Farewell". The Sioux City Sunday Journal. p. D1. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Pins, Kenneth (October 1, 1981). "Riders Mourn the Black Hawk". The Des Moines Register. pp. 1A, 3A. Retrieved January 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Project 1971 - Trains Just Prior to Amtrak - Streamliner Schedules".
  5. All-America Schedules. Amtrak. May 19, 1974. p. 43.

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