"This would really be a nice place if there weren't all these railroad tracks!"
(anonymous visitor)
(anonymous visitor)
The IRM campus actually has many picturesque locations if you know where to look. Here's a selection of views around the property which don't focus on railroad equipment, tracks, or buildings.
Let's start with the War Memorial, which was originally located in the Illinois Central's Twelfth Street station.
Also at the Depot is this memorial bench which we provided in memory of my father.
Between the Depot and the War Memorial is this arrangement of tablature from the Monon Railroad, with a flower bed.
Flower bed in front of the office.
Our new billboard, south of the trolley bus barn.
The Goddess of IRM.
Spring wildflowers.
Wetlands on the south 40.
Two views of the North Western bridge over the Kishwaukee, as seen from near the east end of our main line.
This windmill tower is the last remaining vestige of the old Knut Olson farm.
Schneider's Grove, which fell victim to urban development.
Our corn looks pretty much like everybody else's.
Eeeek!
The material yard.
Schneider's Grove, which fell victim to urban development.
Our corn looks pretty much like everybody else's.
Eeeek!
Wooded areas along the west end of the line, and a nearby farmhouse.
Along the Creek
Spring wildflowers.
Wetlands on the south 40.
This berm serves to shield the neighbors from having to look at the south storage yards, and also serves as an historic reproduction of an abandoned right-of-way.
Part of the tree farm along the eastern part of the line.
Two views of the North Western bridge over the Kishwaukee, as seen from near the east end of our main line.
Scènes d'automne
Winter
The Siegel Farm
The farm house, front and back.
The farmstead includes several outbuildings...
The most interesting of which is this: what's left of an old Milwaukee Road wooden reefer.
Looking out across the fields.
The Christ Farm
Pictures taken soon after we bought the property in September 2020. As I understand it, the general consensus is that none of these structures are salvageable, so some photographs would be in order while they're still standing.
The house is more or less by itself out in front, with all of the outbuildings much farther back.
The path to the storage buildings:
This one is about to collapse:
The boxcar shed:
The remains of an orchard:
Nice photo composition on the last photo, "looking out across the fields"!
ReplyDeleteJohn Csoka
IRM Western Division
I believe the Christ family drove a had bargain on the purchase of some of their land to connect the IRM right of way, back in the old days. It is too bad another family farm will be removed.
ReplyDeleteTed Miles, IRM Member
Where is the Crist family farm located in relation to IRM? I wanted to look it up on Google Maps/Satelite to see where it was.
ReplyDelete-Matt Maloy
It's east of the Siegel farm that we already own, and south from our ROW to Coral Rd. The farmstead is located at a 45 degree bend in the road. Beyond that I'm not sure how to be more specific. One of these days we need to publish an updated map of the property.
ReplyDeleteAh-okay, I found it. It's too bad those buildings are unsalvagable. If it were in slightly better shape, I would gladly have moved into that house. Having IRM literally in my backyard would be amazing.
ReplyDelete-Matt Maloy
Regarding that property map, I understand that an updated one is planned for the next Rail & Wire. Also, the family spelled their name Christ; the recent decedent is the son of the owner that IRM tangled with in its early days in Union, Fred Christ (see R&W 89 from March, 1978).
ReplyDeleteR. W. Schauer