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
Location213 North Illinois Street
Streator Illinois 61364
 United States
Coordinates41°07′23″N 88°49′28″W / 41.1230°N 88.8245°W / 41.1230; -88.8245
Owned byBNSF Railway
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks3
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
History
ClosedAugust 1, 1996[1]
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Chillicothe
toward Dallas or Houston
Lone Star Joliet (Union Station)
toward Chicago
Chillicothe Southwest Chief
Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station
Moon Main Line Kernan
toward Chicago
Location
Map

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

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Streator 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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Galesburg to Streator". Retrieved 1 Feb 2011.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Former Santa Fe Streator depot upgraded". Trains. NewsWire. 28 Feb 2013. Retrieved 17 Jul 2013.
  5. ^ "Streator Canteen". geocaching.com. Retrieved 8 Jan 2014.
  6. ^ "Coffee Pot Lady Unveiled in Illinois". roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 8 Jan 2014.
  7. ^ "WWII Canteen Monument". streator.org. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 1 Feb 2011.
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