Nemo, Illinois
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From M&StL Yahoo Groups
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 10:09:25 -0600 From: "Douglas Harding"
Subject: RE: Nemo
I have a copies of maps, drawings and track charts showing the interchange
trackage, depot and stock pens at Nemo between the ATSF and M&StL.
Nemo was between Monmouth and Abingdon on the M&StL for those who
don't know. The ATSF double track went over the M&StL single track via
an overpass and embankment. The SF had a Depot that sat on the embankment
with an elaborate wood pilings supporting the depot and wood platform,
with a stairway going down to the M&StL. The stairway was wood, with a
landing toward the bottom. At one end of the platform, on a lower level
with is own stairway was a 2nd building used for record storage. There was
also a 10 pen stock pen with one double deck loading chute and a scale
house on the interchange tracks. The design looks to be Santa Fe. Another
drawing dated 1941 shows a new depot was constructed with a basement and
new fill. A stairway was noted but not shown. As the person who made the
copies, cut all the maps just a hair short I can cite the months, but not
the years when the maps/drawings were made.
Nemo was the main interchange for California produce and fruit going to
the Twin Cities, from the ATSF via Nemo to the M&StL. The Santa Fe got
a long run and only had to interchange the loads once. As Nemo was not a
large metropolitan yard, I imagine it save a day or more on getting the
produce to Minneapolis with the fewest routing headaches. And the Santa Fe
got their reefers back in a very timely fashion.
Nemo plays a role on my Iowa Central layout, via staging. I have a string
of Sante Fe reefers which routinely make the trip over the Iowa Central
via Nemo. Loads heading north, empties heading back south. Makes for a
nice through train on my layout.
The rather large stock pens with a chute for double deck cars indicates
that, at least early one, sheep and more likely hogs were loaded/unloaded
at Nemo. No knowing for sure, I would say loading of hogs for shipment to
slaughter houses in Chicago via the Santa Fe. Anyone know for sure?
Besides reefer traffic, what were other major commodities interchanged at
Nemo? I know a lot of oil and petroleum products moved north on the M&StL.;But
I have not determined where it came onto the M&StL and via what
railroad interchange. As Grinnell had a number of oil jobbers, almost all
on the M&StL south of the RI trackage, I doubt the oil traffic came
via the RI. I suspect somewhere south of Grinnell, which leaves Oskaloosa,
or possibly Albia as the source of oil traffic. Could it have come up on
the Santa Fe and given to the M&StL at Nemo?
If you look for Nemo on any map, it is doubtful you will find it. It does
not even show up on my Delorme map. There is just a short little road
labeled Nemo Road adjacent to the ATSF tracks between Monmouth and
Abingdon near a spot called Ormonde. To me it appears Nemo was a major
source of traffic for the M&StL. A lesson to layout builders that
interchanges can sometimes be the most interesting industries to build.
Sorry no photos.
Doug Harding Iowa Central Railroad www.iowatelecom.net/~dharding/
| Former M.& St. L. employees who worked in this town. | ||
| Name | Job Title | Dates worked |
| Sample Name | Section Foreman | 1942-1944 |
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