Ashdale Junction, Illinois facts for kids

Ashdale Junction was an important spot for a big train company called the Milwaukee Road. It was located in Carroll County, Illinois, in the United States. This place was special because it was where different train tracks met.

Ashdale Junction

Ashdale Junction was once a busy place for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. People often called this company the "Milwaukee Road." It was found in Carroll County, Illinois. This spot was important because it was a "junction." A junction is where two or more train lines connect.

What was Ashdale Junction?

Ashdale Junction was more than just a place where tracks met. It was also a former train station. It sat along the main Milwaukee Road line. This line ran east of a town called Mount Carroll.

The Ashdale Cutoff

One of the most important things about Ashdale Junction was the "Ashdale cutoff." This was a special, shorter train track. It let some trains avoid a tricky part of the main line. This tricky part included a large train yard and a steep hill near Savanna, Illinois.

The Ashdale cutoff was about 15 miles long. It followed along Johnson Creek. A company called the "Ashdale and Thomson Railroad" built it in 1902. This company was actually part of the Milwaukee Road. Trains started using this new track in 1903. One famous train that used it was the Southwest Limited.

This cutoff was part of an even bigger project. That project was called the "Kansas City Cutoff." It was a way for trains to travel across Iowa more directly. The Ashdale cutoff was used for many years. However, it was finally closed down in 1952.

A Stop on the Line

Even though Ashdale Junction did not have a big train terminal, passenger trains still stopped there. It was a regular stop for people traveling by train. This was true at least until 1912. It was the only stop between the towns of Lanark and Mount Carroll.