Genoa Station

Genoa Station-Genoa, IL, originally uploaded by William 74.

Once upon a time, you could go just about anywhere in the country on a train. Stations and whistle stops dotted the countryside, and the local depot was both a lifeline and a meeting place. Times have changed, of course, and most towns are accessible by road these days, and the number of cities serviced by passenger rail has decreased dramatically.

Many of the old stations and depots still stand, though. This one is a former Chicago, St. Paul, and Milwaukee station in Genoa, Illinois. The Milwaukee Road ran plenty of passenger trains out of Chicago to points west, including the famous electrified route through the Rockies. This station likely handled some Hiawathas, as well as locals into Chicago and to points north. It is nicely restored and is in use as a museum.