Museum Kicks Off Series With Discussion on Fox River Branch Rail Line

Photo: In December 1911, Oswego photographer Dwight Young captured this image of Oswego’s Chicago, Burlington & Quincy depot. The depot stood on Jackson near South Adams Street.

Submitted by the Little White School Museum:

The winter/spring 2015 program series at Oswego’s historic Little White School Museum in Oswego will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 with “The Fox River Branch of the Burlington Railroad.”

The museum is located at 72 Polk St. (Polk at Jackson), just two blocks east of Oswego’s historic downtown business district.

The Fox River Branch rail line extends from Montgomery south along the banks of the Fox River through Oswego and Yorkville to Ottawa before continuing due south to its terminus at Streator. Leo Phillipp, a former employee who worked on the Fox River Branch rail line from Montgomery to Streator, will speak about the branch line’s history, train operations over the decades including its major and minor customers, the line’s passenger service, and major wrecks that happened along the line.

Phillipp will also offer an outline of operations along the line by the Burlington Northern and the short line rail companies that subsequently took over the line.

The program will be suitable for train enthusiasts age 14 and older. Admission donation is $5 per person. Proceeds will benefit the museum’s operations.

For more information on the program series, call the museum at 630-554-2999, check out the website at www.littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org, or send an email to info@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.