Freeport station (Illinois)

Freeport station is a former train station in Freeport, Illinois. It was in use from 1849 to 1971 and 1974 to 1981.

Freeport, IL
Freeport station in 1981
General information
Location	239 East Stephenson Street Freeport, Illinois
Coordinates	42.29970°N 89.61510°W / 42.29970; -89.61510
Line(s)	Freeport Subdivision
History
Opened	1853 (C&NW), 1855 (IC), February 13, 1974 (Amtrak)[1]
Closed	1949 (C&NW) April 30, 1971 (Illinois Central)[2] September 30, 1981 (Amtrak)[3]
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Warren toward Dubuque Black Hawk 1974–1981 Rockford toward Chicago Preceding station Illinois Central Railroad Following station Eleroy toward Sioux City Sioux City – Chicago Evarts toward Chicago Terminus Freeport – Centralia South Freeport toward Centralia Scioto Mills toward Madison Madison – Freeport Terminus Preceding station Chicago and North Western Railway Following station Terminus Freeport Branch Ridott toward West Chicago
Location

History

The Chicago and North Western Railway opened its Freeport Branch in 1849, followed by the Iowa Division of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1853. The two railroads eventually shared a station, while the Milwaukee Road used a separate station across the Pecatonica River. The station served Illinois Central's Hawkeye, Iowan, Land O'Corn, and Sinnissippi trains. Passenger service ceased upon the formation of Amtrak in 1971, but resumed between Chicago and Dubuque in 1974 under the name Black Hawk.^[4][5] Service ceased again on September 30, 1981.^[3] The depot still stands as a business. Plans for the restoration of the Black Hawk occurred in the early 2010s, but they were postponed indefinitely in 2014.