Streator station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Streator, IL
Former Amtrak and AT&SF station
The station depot in Streator in March 2017.
Location	213 North Illinois Street Streator Illinois 61364  United States
Coordinates	41°07′23″N 88°49′28″W / 41.1230°N 88.8245°W / 41.1230; -88.8245
Owned by	BNSF Railway
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	3
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
History
Closed	August 1, 1996
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Chillicothe, IL toward Dallas or Houston Lone Star Joliet (Union Station) toward Chicago Chillicothe, IL toward Los Angeles Southwest Chief Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station Moon toward Los Angeles Main Line Kernan toward Chicago

Streator Station was an old train station located in Streator, Illinois, United States. Many passenger trains from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) used to stop here.

Amtrak, a national train company, used this station until 1996. Their Southwest Chief train traveled daily between Chicago and Los Angeles, stopping at Streator.

The station closed because two big train companies, Burlington Northern and AT&SF, joined together to form BNSF Railway. BNSF built a new connecting track near Cameron. This track made it easier for trains to switch between different main lines. Because of this new track and some changes to the path leading to Chicago, Amtrak decided to change the route of the Southwest Chief. This meant the train no longer stopped at Streator or Chillicothe after 1996.

In 2013, BNSF Railway updated the station. They put on a new roof, fixed the brick walls, and added new windows.

World War II Canteen Monument

Streator Station is home to a special monument. This monument honors the many volunteers who helped soldiers and sailors during World War II. These brave volunteers served millions of military members who were traveling on troop trains.

The volunteers ran a "canteen" at the station. It was open from November 26, 1943, to May 29, 1946. During this time, they served about 1.5 million soldiers and sailors. The volunteers would get on the trains while they were stopped and give food to the troops. The monument was officially shown to the public on November 11, 2006.