Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot - Murphysboro, Illinois
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 37° 45.854 W 089° 20.531
16S E 293691 N 4182239
Historic former railroad depot in Murphysboro, Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM6ADN
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 05/02/2009
Views: 3
The M & O Railroad Depot was constructed in 1888. The building was designed Philip N. Frew, a local contractor and builder. He also built the M & O shops and roundhouse in Murphysboro. Building was built of stone from a deep cut made for the construction of the railroad bed near Alto Pass, 14 miles to the south and of brick manufactured in Murphysboro.
The M & O Railroad had one of its largest repair shops located adjacent to the depot. The depot served as an important shipping poin for the large fruit and produce industry of Southern Illinois. Trains leaving Murphysboro's depot provided transportation throughout the local area as well as the larger metropolitan areas.
The M & O shops were prosperous until a tornado hit Murphysboro on March 18, 1925. The tornado destoyed the shops and roundhouse. The depot suffered only minimal damage. Soon after the M & O railroad relocated its shops to Jackson, Tennessee.
The depot continued its operations and served as a control center for a large area for the M & O Railroad. For many years two northbound and two southbound trains left the depot. In 1958, passenger service was on the railroad was discontinued. In December, 1977 the depot closed after of 90 years of continous use.
The depot has been renovated and converted to a restaurant.