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Bloomington, midway between Chicago and St. Louis, was the location of the shops where GM&O motive power and equipment were repaired and maintained. Several vintage limestone buildings dating from the Alton Route era housed the shop and terminal facilities. In addition, a freight yard operation handled the sorting of cars going to or from local lineside industries, the main line, the Jacksonville line, or transfer to other railroads (Nickel Plate, Illinois Central or the New York Central's Peoria & Eastern branch). A small fleet of ALCo switchers and road switchers performed local freight and switching chores; these locomotives could always be spotted in the yard or at servicing facilities, and usually some EMD road freight units as well.
Street overpasses both south and north of the yard afforded good vantage points for photography, easily reached via bicycle in my pre-driving days. In the era before railroads had become as sensitive as today regarding security and liability, there was relatively free access to the terminal area. In addition, my father knew one of the shop officials who hosted us in a tour of the repair facilities on at least one occasion. The photos below record activity in the Bloomington yard, terminal and shops from 1954 through 1959, with a few later views taken by my brother, the late David V. Leonard. You may bring up each page individually, or navigate through the gallery sequentially.
Terminal, Shops and Yard from South, 1954
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Yard Viewed from North, 1957
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Terminal Area from South, 1961
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ALCo S2 1002 from Bridge, 1957
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S2 1002 Switching at Union Asbestos Plant, 1957
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RS1 1122 Switching at Union Asbestos Plant, 1957
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ALCo RS1 52 at Terminal, 1954
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ALCo S2 1002 and RS1 50, 1957
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Boxcab Unit 1200 (former B&O)
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ALCo RS1 59 in Yard, 1958
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ALCo RS1 59 in Yard, 1958
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ALCo RS1 1125 in Yard, 1954
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ALCo RS1 59 at Shops, 1958
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ALCo RS2 1501 at Shop, 1958
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ALCo RS1 1122 from Bridge, 1957
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ALCo RS1 54 from Bridge, 1958
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ALCo RS2 Units 1504 and 1516, 1959
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ALCo S2 1001 in Yard, 1958
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Switcher Lineup at Shops, 1958
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Freshly Painted ALCo S2 13, 1958
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ALCo S2 1002 from Bridge, 1957
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ALCo S2 1001 at I.C. Crossing, Normal, 1961
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EMD F3 Units 805A-805B, 1954
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EMD F7 813A at Terminal, 1957
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F3 Units 807A-806B Being Cleaned, 1958
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EMD F3 881A at Terminal, 1958
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F7 Units 812A-812B at Terminal, 1958
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F3 A-B-A Units with Freight Train, 1958
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F3 A-B-A Units at Terminal, 1958
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F3 A-B-A Units at Terminal, 1958
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EMD F3 Units in Yard, 1958
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F7 Unit 812B on Freight Car Trucks, 1958
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Diesel Engine Under Repair in Shop, 1958
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Motor Car 2506 in House, 1958
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Wooden Caboose Under Repair, 1958 |
Radio Equipped Caboose, 1958
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Steam Roundhouse, 1958
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ALCo S2 20 in Yard, 1974
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Receiving Orders, 1969
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Unit 800A at Terminal, 1974
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