urbanSTL

That (I think it's that one) abandoned Grain elevator is on builtstlouis.net

http://www.builtstlouis.net/eaststlouis ... vator.html

I think it's the same one. http://www.eco-absence.org/esl/corno/

There's also another industrial building visible from the Missouri side. It might be for some kind of grain, likely now abandoned, though. http://www.builtstlouis.net/eaststlouis/intro.html It's in the first picture, kind of in the middle. East St. Louis is kind of a sad sight, although parts of St. Louis are, too.



Gunkanjima would be neat to explore. It's an island off the coast of Japan and was occupied from 1880s until 1974. There's a bunch of highrises there that have been barely touched since 1974, and the hospitals still have old medicine and files (obviously in Japanese) lying around. It's really interesting, but travel is prohibited because it could be dangerous. It's amazing, though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunkanjima

From the wiki page there's pictures and videos of the island. There's a video of a former resident touring the buildings and telling stories. It's in Japanese but there are subtitles.

Just a word about these tunnels. They were built about 1930 by the Illinois Terminal (former Illinois traction) electric interurban railway. The terminal building was largely a freight warehouse with a passenger station. Passengers were transported to track level on a large elevator and the building to this day has a bas-relief of an IT interurban.



The tunnels, station, elevated and the McKinley bridge were all built by the same railroad (the bridge was built in 1910) and carried intercity interurban trains (about six daily round trips to Springfield and Peoria, ended in 1955), plus local commuter service to Madison, Granite Ciy and Alton (last ran in 1958) and local freight traffic.



The IT was a huge railroad by interurban standards. Very few others built on this scale. IT trains at one time offered sleeper, coach and parlor car service. For more info, refer to the book written by Paul Stringham. Google the Illinois Terminal railroiad and see what comes up. Wikipedia probably has something, too.



I doubt these tunnels could be used today. They probably are too far gone to be repaired and put back into use. The McKinley Bridge (named for the owner of IT in 1910, NOT the president of the same name) has been rebuilt as an auto-only span. The long approach on the east side of the river is gone as well.



I did see a Youtube clip of a trolley ride on this line a while back. You might be able to find it.



If we only had that today.

Just a word about these tunnels. They were built about 1930 by the Illinois Terminal (former Illinois traction) electric interurban railway. The terminal building was largely a freight warehouse with a passenger station. Passengers were transported to track level on a large elevator and the building to this day has a bas-relief of an IT interurban.

Probably not the station to which you were referring, but an interesting picture nonetheless. Anyone know where this was?

No it isn't, but it sure is interesting!!! Never saw that one before. It's for the Eads bridge and that puts it further south and east of the IT station. Very cool find!

Hey Eastside, do you happen to know what the building at the southeast corner of Clark and 18th was (just east of the US train shed and south of the US Postal Service building)? I suspect it had something to do with the railroad. I remember them tearing a nice old brick building down before they dug the trench for Metrolink, but I can't find any reference to it, or any pics.

I had to think a minute there. It may have been a mail handling facility where mail cars were handled. I do know the Railway Express Agency had a facility there as well, but I don't know exactly who had what or what the buildings were.

when does the bike lane open on the McKinley bridge? I wish someone would recreate the "electric way" sign. how f ing cool was that!?

Electric Way sign...waaaay cool!!!

Eastsidewillie wrote:I had to think a minute there. It may have been a mail handling facility where mail cars were handled. I do know the Railway Express Agency had a facility there as well, but I don't know exactly who had what or what the buildings were.

It's been bugging me, because I seem to recall it being a nice looking brick building. If I recall correctly, it was about 4 stories and really long; I think it stretched the whole length between 16th and 18th, i.e. it might have made a great loft building. I can't find a picture or mention of it anywhere. I guess if I really want to know, I'm gonna have to visit the Mo. History Museum archives.

Well, I LIKE reminders of the past. It's our history, after all.