David Hukill's Collection
4/23/2024
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Viewing Album: Des Moines Rail Buildings and Tracks
By:
David Hukill
Dates:
7/12/2014 - 12/31/2017
Album Info:
Des Moines has housed a few depots over the decades, but now only two remain. The CRI&P depot has been repurposed, having nearly been snuffed in the early 1980's when the CRI&P collapsed. The "Little Wabash" depot, aka "Little Union" station, was only used for roughly five years as ridership was simply too much for it after it had been built. It remains in ruins on the east side of the Des Moines river in the downtown area known as the East Village. I've included additional relevant buildings and abandoned tracks as I find them throughout the metro.
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Title:
"Little Wabash" depot, aka "Little Union Station", Des Moines IA
Description:
"Little Wabash" depot, aka "Little Union Station", view northwest from abandoned DMUR tracks, Des Moines IA; this depot only lasted about five years before being converted into storage. It now sits in ruins, partially open to the elements and easily accessible by drifters. Regarding the name - this depot was built on the Des Moines Union Railway tracks as a secondary depot to the much larger Union Station downtown between 5th and 6th, across from the Court House. The DMUR was 50/50 owned by the Wabash and the Milwaukee Road, operating as a city switch road to service local industry, and provide yards and tracks between the two Class I roads. In any case, rather than call this depot the "Little Union Station" many refer to it as the "Little Wabash" depot, after one of the DMUR owners. It's been inactive so long, I don't think anyone knows its true name.
Photo Date:
7/12/2014
Upload Date:
8/29/2015 8:44:19 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Night,Station
Locomotives:
Views:
263
Comments:
3
Title:
CRI&P Station, Iron girders, night shot, Des Moines IA
Description:
These iron girders once acted as a gateway for travelers entering Des Moines, or transferring trains on routes through the Midwest. These girders held the Rock Island Route sign, and spanned 4th St, bringing together the two buildings that acted as the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific depot. Now a German bar sits on left, and legal offices on right.
Photo Date:
10/26/2014
Upload Date:
8/29/2015 8:34:22 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Night,Station
Locomotives:
Views:
162
Comments:
0
Title:
Unknown DMUR Building, now owned by NS, Des Moines IA
Description:
This is an unknown DMUR building now owned by NS. There are a number of tracks next to and beyond this structure, including a freight platform and rail yard. This is soon to vanish as the area is being redeveloped.
Photo Date:
11/25/2014
Upload Date:
8/29/2015 8:51:31 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
114
Comments:
0
Title:
CRI&P Mechanic Shop, 111 S 11th St, West Des Moines IA
Description:
CRI&P Mechanic Shop, left by the railroad when they moved operations east to the Shortline Yard in Des Moines. Since then, this has been used for various purposes and has been renovated in recent years. Its difficult to take an accurate picture of the building as it is so large.
Photo Date:
4/26/2015
Upload Date:
8/29/2015 9:04:54 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Locomotives:
Views:
134
Comments:
0
Title:
CRI&P double-track bridge, view west, Des Moines IA
Description:
CRI&P mainline once spanned the Des Moines river with a two-track bridge. At some point in the road's history, likely upon collapse, this second side was pulled up and shuttered. The other side is still used by IAIS (as well as UP and NS) as part of the Omaha-Chicago mainline.
Photo Date:
8/22/2015
Upload Date:
8/30/2015 11:25:10 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Bridge,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
122
Comments:
0
Title:
Little Wabash Depot, aka "Little Union Station", view east from abandoned DMUR mainline, Des Moines IA
Description:
Little Wabash Depot, aka "Little Union Station", view east from abandoned DMUR mainline, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
8/22/2015
Upload Date:
8/30/2015 11:14:09 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Station
Locomotives:
Views:
141
Comments:
0
Title:
Little Wabash Depot, aka "Little Union Station", view west from abandoned DMUR mainline, Des Moines IA
Description:
Little Wabash Depot, aka "Little Union Station", view east from abandoned DMUR mainline, Des Moines IA; notice the juxtaposition of the, quite literally, overgrown and forgotten little station against a background of modern steel behemoths.
Photo Date:
8/22/2015
Upload Date:
8/30/2015 11:19:40 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Station
Locomotives:
Views:
189
Comments:
0
Title:
Trestle behind Monarch Cement, Des Moines IA
Description:
Trestle behind Monarch Cement, I believe this was CGW; the tracks leading up to this are still in the ground but abandoned, and Monarch is now serviced by UP. There was a small yard behind monarch, with a single line still remaining where cars are pushed back for later use. This line would have connected to that small yard northwest of this area, and more directly connected to the tracks near Ruan. Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
9/13/2015
Upload Date:
11/1/2015 12:31:37 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Bridge
Locomotives:
Views:
94
Comments:
0
Title:
IAIS Mainline, Des Moines IA
Description:
IAIS Mainline, view looking east from atop Fleur Drive bridge, this was the old CRI&P mainline, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
10/11/2015
Upload Date:
10/11/2015 10:33:16 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Track
Locomotives:
Views:
64
Comments:
0
Title:
Small yard behind 5701 Park Ave, very possibly M&StL RR Service yard, south side of yard, Des Moines IA
Description:
Small yard behind former RR Donnelly plant on 5701 Park Ave, south side of yard; after some research of old photos and a map from 1914, I would put money on this being a M&StL RR (Peoria Gateway) service yard that was later acquired by CGW/CNW, and eventually UP. I counted 5 sets of tracks running east-west with a sixth track a little walk north; all of this is just west of Ruan, and west of active UP tracks, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
11/1/2015
Upload Date:
11/2/2015 10:33:16 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Yard,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
106
Comments:
1
Title:
Small yard behind 5701 Park Ave, very possibly M&StL RR Service yard, north side of yard, Des Moines IA
Description:
Small yard behind former RR Donnelly plant on 5701 Park Ave, north side of yard; after some research of old photos and a map from 1914, I would put money on this being a M&StL RR (Peoria Gateway) service yard that was later acquired by CGW/CNW, and eventually UP. I counted 5 sets of tracks running east-west with a sixth track a little walk north; all of this is just west of Ruan, and west of active UP tracks, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
11/1/2015
Upload Date:
11/2/2015 11:48:30 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Yard,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
112
Comments:
0
Title:
CRGX 29261, Des Moines IA
Description:
CRGX 29261, part of a UP train that had to break up onto siding to let an IAIS by, taken at SE 18th switchyard; this was taken over the hood of my blue car creating an effect like still water, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
12/11/2015
Upload Date:
12/18/2015 12:01:25 AM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
RollingStock,Night,Yard,Track,Action
Locomotives:
Views:
58
Comments:
0
Title:
Little rail shack, possibly DMUR, Des Moines IA
Description:
Little rail shack, this is situated next to MLK and the Meredith Corp parking lot only tens of feet away from the IAIS mainline; quite possibly a remnant of the old DMUR yard, currently abandoned, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
12/24/2015
Upload Date:
12/26/2015 7:51:09 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Yard
Locomotives:
Views:
56
Comments:
0
Title:
Chicago Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Passenger Depot, Des Moines IA
Description:
Chicago Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Passenger Depot, 4th st, the larger side is currently law offices, the smaller side is a bar; the picture is view slight north, and all west; now imagine decades ago there was an additional track north of the mainline nearer the cars, and around three additional tracks south of the mainline; being of the post-consolidation era, I can't speak to how many of these lines were "mainline", but there were at least two lines used as "mainlines" by the depot (a combination of those two seen here), and there were two separate lines crossing the Des Moines River next to one another; unfortunately, DSM is not one to preserve history, so only memory and a little digging can prove what once was; Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
2/7/2016
Upload Date:
2/8/2016 12:00:42 AM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Scenic,Winter,Station,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
89
Comments:
0
Title:
Abandoned tracks near IAIS mainline and siding, Des Moines IA
Description:
Abandoned tracks near IAIS mainline and siding, quite possibly part of the DMUR system, and could have serviced the interurban traffic, Des Moines IA
Photo Date:
5/14/2016
Upload Date:
5/14/2016 3:48:55 PM
Location:
Des Moines, IA
Author:
David Hukill
Categories:
Scenic,Track
Locomotives:
Views:
65
Comments:
0
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