Anyone remember the Illinois Central Running Through Anna, Illinois?

[mobilman44]

Hi, I spent a lot of summers in the '50s watching Illinois Central trains from my Grandmother's house in Anna, Illinois - located right next to the 4 track raceway (2 mains, 1 passing siding, 1 local siding).  The sights, sounds, and smells of those coal burning steam locos and those fast, beautiful chocolate and orange E units are as strong today as they were 50 years ago.  In fact, those days were instrumental in starting me off on a lifelong hobby of "trains". Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures back then because "they would always be there" and of course more so due to lack of funds.  But now,in my "senior" years, I am trying to go back in time, and am searching for pictures or write-ups or whatever about Anna Illinois and the Illinois Central.  You know, I joined the Illinois Central Historical Society (wonderful organization!) 15 years ago but while a few folks were there and remember those days, they have no pictures available.  And of course I bought almost all of the "picture" books on the IC, but I have yet to see any pictures of Anna Illinois and the Illinois Central. You all are my last hope.........  Is there anybody out there that could help me out ??? Thank you!!!! Mobilman44
		Report Abuse

[sebamat]

Hi,

I have a quite large collection of pictures of the IC (mostly from the net), but none carry as location  Anna, Illinois.

Do you remember the next towns up and down the IC line? Possibly Anna was not on the RR list of towns or was known under another name....

 

sebastiano

 

 

 

[cacole]

If you use MapQuest aerial images of Anna, Illinois, you'll see the main Illinois Central north-south Chicago to New Orleans line running right through the center of town.

I was raised in Pinckneyville, where the IC had a rather extensive roundhouse facility in steam days, but no pictures.

I'm surprised to hear that the IC Historical Society has nothing, because I think Anna was one of those towns that originally existed only because the railroad went through the area.

 

[mobilman44]

Thanks for the lead.......

I purchased a topographical map of the area but really didn't get much out of it.  Mapquest sure might be a better choice, and I'll try it.

Anna always had a quarry nearby and some basic farming areas and such, but it really hasn't gone anywhere over the years.  When I frequented it in the '50s, the population was about 6k, and a couple of years ago when I stopped there it was still 6k.  Of course the town is connected to Jonesboro, which I never understood why they weren't "one town".

To my knowledge, there was no major RR facilities there (I do recall a water tower), only a station that was fairly modest in size. 

The ICHS is a terrific organization, and I have talked with a couple of folks that were familiar with Anna and one whose Father worked the station there.  But insofar as pictures are concerned, no luck at all.  I even wrote the the Gazette Democrat, who never gave me the courtesy of an answer, but somehow got my letter to show up when anyone "googled" my name.

Thanks again,

Mobilman44