Amboy station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Amboy Illinois Central Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	50 S. East Ave., Amboy, Illinois
Area	less than one acre (4,000 m2)
Built	1876
Architect	James Nocquet
Architectural style	Italianate
NRHP reference No.	92001015
Added to NRHP	August 18, 1992

The Amboy station is a historic building in Amboy, Illinois. It used to be a busy rail station and the main office for the Illinois Central Railroad. Built in 1876, it was designed by James Nocquet in the beautiful Italianate style.

This important building served as the railroad's Northern Division headquarters until 1894. Today, it's a fun museum where you can learn about trains and local history. The museum even has an old steam locomotive on display. The Amboy station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

History of the Amboy Train Depot

The Amboy Illinois Central Depot was built in 1876. It stood right along the tracks of the Illinois Central Railroad. This railroad was once planned to be the biggest in the world! A special law passed in 1854 helped make it happen.

The railroad chose Lee County, Illinois for its main offices. They bought land in what is now Amboy. The city of Amboy actually grew up around the railroad's activities. For twenty years, the Amboy building was the central hub for the northern part of the railroad.

The Amboy Depot from its rear facade.

The original building was made bigger in 1863. But it was still too small for all the work being done. Then, on November 15, 1875, a big fire destroyed the main office and a nearby hotel.

After the fire, the railroad decided to build a new, bigger building. This new building would combine the train station and the main offices. The current Amboy Illinois Central Depot was finished in 1876. It managed 53 different train stations along a long stretch of track.

Changes to the Railroad's Importance

Things changed in 1894. A new east-west rail line was built from Iowa to Chicago. This new line meant less train traffic went through Amboy. Because of this, the railroad decided to make the Amboy section less important.

The main offices in Amboy were closed. Many of the train repair shops were moved to other towns like Freeport, Illinois and Clinton, Illinois.

Even after the main offices moved, the depot still served as a train station. It was a place where train crews would change shifts. It also served as the local station for the village of Amboy. The second floor was mostly empty after 1894.

As cars and buses became more popular, fewer people rode trains. Passenger train service to Amboy stopped in 1939. The depot was then updated and changed inside. Part of the first floor became a storage area. The second floor was turned into apartments for station workers.

During World War II and the Korean War, the station became very important. It was the main transfer point for ammunition made at a nearby factory.

Saving the Historic Amboy Depot

In the mid-1980s, the Amboy Depot's time as an active train building came to an end. In 1984, the Illinois Central Railroad decided to close the rail line through Amboy. They even planned to tear down the old station.

But a group of citizens stepped in to save it! They worked with the Village of Amboy. The building was saved and turned into the museum we see today.

Amboy Depot Architecture

The Amboy Illinois Central Depot was designed by James Nocquet. He was an architect who worked for the railroad. He designed the building in the Italianate style. This style often features grand, elegant buildings with decorative details.

The building was meant to be a large, modern office for the railroad. It also served as a train station for the people of Amboy. The front half of the first floor had waiting rooms and ticket counters. The office parts of the building had many windows, letting in lots of light.

The building is rectangular, measuring about 32 feet (9.8 m) wide and 88 feet (27 m) long. It's made of red brick with fancy limestone details. Its size and beautiful design show how important it was to the Illinois Central Railroad.

Amboy Depot Museum Exhibits

NS&W #76, the last steam locomotive commissioned for regular freight service in the United States.

The Amboy Depot Museum opened in 2003. It covers much of the old train yard that Illinois Central used to have in Amboy. This was part of the longest rail line in the world when it was finished in 1855!

The museum has three main buildings. The Amboy Illinois Central Depot is the most important one. Inside, you'll find exhibits and items about Amboy's history and the Illinois Central Railroad.

Another building is the Palmer School. This is a restored one-room schoolhouse that was moved to the museum property. The third building is the Amboy Illinois Central Freight House. It was moved here in 2003 to save it from being torn down.

The Famous Steam Locomotive

The Amboy Depot Museum also has a cool steam locomotive on display. It sits on its own tracks next to the depot. This locomotive is an 0-8-0 steam engine. It was built in 1929 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. It was first used by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad.

This engine, number 8376, was retired in 1958 and sold for scrap metal. However, a company called Northwestern Steel and Wire bought it and other steam engines. Instead of melting them down, they fixed them up! They used these old steam engines in their steel mill.

So, in 1976, engine 8376 was brought back to life as NS&W #76. It became the very last steam locomotive in the United States to be used for regular freight service! It worked daily until 1980. After that, it was retired again and came to the Amboy Depot Museum.

Why the Amboy Depot is Important

This plaque denotes the building's inclusion on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Amboy Illinois Central Depot is a very important building for the local area. This is because of its strong connection to the Illinois Central Railroad. Most of the building's original features, both inside and out, are still in great condition.

Because of its history as the Northern Division headquarters for the Illinois Central Railroad, the Amboy Illinois Central Depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 18, 1992. This means it's recognized as a special historical place worth protecting.