McLeansboro Junction, IL

History

McLeansboro Junction, also known as Shawnee Junction, was where the L & N branched from the main line that extended from East St. Louis to the Wabash River. According to Ralph Harrelson's article, the town was surveyed on November 17, 1871, in section 9 of what is now known as McLeansboro Township. A Y-track went to McLeansboro's first depot then on to Shawneetown. Trains that were not destined for Shawneetown had to back down into McLeansboro to pickup freight and passengers at the Market and Marshall Street facility.

The McLeansboro Times-Leader, Mcleansboro, Illinois, reported on Oct 20, 1955 that construction of the new depot one mile north of town on the main line started on 6/25/1885.

March 28, 1890, the L & N request for right of way was granted for a new route that would shave 30 minutes from the transit time and remove the requirement for trains to back down into the city to reach the old depot. The approval was contingent on abandonment of the northern route and the construction of a new passenger and freight depot.

December 3, 1891, the first train to travel the rails without having to back into town arrived at the third McLeansboro depot.

A New Geography of Hamilton County, Ralph S. Harrelson, Hamilton County File, Norris City Library
McLeansboro Times-Leader (Mcleansboro, Illinois) · Thu, Oct 20, 1955 · Page 34-36