The Peoria, Decatur & Evansville Railway

 Name:  Browns, Illinois(elevation 402') - Telegraph: BN
 Mile Post:  205.1
 Previous Station:  Bone Gap
 Next Station:  Siegert
 Description:  There was once a significant joint depot with the Southern Railway located at Browns.  Probably the largest on the PD&E between Mattoon and Evansville.  In an interesting aside, in 1892 John Goodbourn granted a triangular piece of land to the west of the tracks and starting at a point opposite of what in 2012 is road CR-12.  He was very insistent that he be in control of the turntable.  Which may explain the removal of it to Evansville in 1894.  In 2005, the Browns, Grayville and Poseyville Railway had plans to put the rail back in between Browns and Poseyville.  However, as of  nothing has come of it.
 Photos:  Right of Way
 Date Reached:  1881
 Track Status:  Part of the track to the south of Browns is still in place. 
 RR Facilities:

 Coal House (10' x 8' x 8') - built 1901 - (listed here in 1916)
 Wood Union Depot (52' x 18' x 14') - built 1880
 Wood Union Depot (64' x 18' x 14') - enlarged 1906
 Wood Union Depot Store Room Annex (8' x 6' x 8') added by 1908
 L-Shaped Wood Union Depot (64' x 18') and (26' x 22') plus Record Room (8' x 4'6") - (listed here in 1916)
 Hand Car House (14'6" x 8'6") - half car body - placed here 1894 - (listed here in 1916)

 Southern Railway Interchange

 Livestock Pen - (listed here in 1928) 

 (3) Livestock Pens measuring overall (93' x 60'l) - (listed here in 1900)
 (2) Livestock Pens each (48' x 34') - built 1916? - (listed here in 1916)
 Section Supply House (18' x 14' x 8') - placed here 1894, half car body? - (listed here in 1916)
 Section Tool House (14' x 12') - built 1894 - (listed here in 1916)

 Sidings, one on the interchange track

 Tool House - (listed here in 1928 & 1944)

 Turntable - listed as being removed to Evansville in 1894

 Water Column - (listed here in 1928) 

 Wood Water Tank (12’ x 10’ tub on 12’ frame) - 7,500 gallon capacity - built 1894 - (listed here in 1916)
 Wood Water Tank (30’ x 20’ tub on 20’ frame) - 98,720 gallon capacity - built 1913 - (listed here in 1916)
 Water Tank - (30' x 20') - 100,000 gallon capacity - built 1913 - (listed here in 1928) 

 Customers:  Custom Farm - later Chemical Fertilizer Company
 Last Updated:  01/28/2012

 

Back to the Stations page