Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 19 hours ago
IN an effort to pass on information about the layout of the tracks in Mendota, I have made this video. I hope someone finds it to be useful.
IN an effort to pass on information about the layout of the tracks in Mendota, I have made this video. I hope someone finds it to be useful.
![Mendota- Ottawa Electric Line Railroad (A 4th Railroad for Mendota IL) [1911-1915]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AmfVsmM019U/mqdefault.jpg "Mendota- Ottawa Electric Line Railroad (A 4th Railroad for Mendota IL) [1911-1915]
Mendota Illinois was close to having a fourth railroad, but financial problems arose with mishandling funds. The Railroad had already been graded from Ottaway to Mendota, Rail was purchased, rail cars were ordered and it almost seemed like a sure thig. The pathway it would take is carefully detailed in the Sun-Bulletin newspapers from 1911-1915. I have all the information at the Mendota Railroad Museum. It would depart Ottawa
and go up Terra Cotta Hill aim toward Prairie Center but just straight east of there about two miles at a Lutheran Church (not there anymore, but the cemetery is). After passing through Prairie Center, it went toward Triumph just northeast of the town and then straight to Mendota coming in south of the fairgrounds, coming on to 1st avenue, going up to 2nd street, all the way to 7th Avenue where it paralleled the Illinois Centrals mainline. A four-track yard was next to the street, and the Milwaukee Road RR was about 75 yards West of the Illinois Central The Electric Line would end up at 6th street. Just next to the CB&Q Railroad. All of this info is also on Microfilm at the Mendota IL library, from 1911-15 and found on the front pages.
Dont forget to visit the Mendota Railroad Museum on Saturday afternoons and the Faber Depot which once was the Milwaukee Road depot. Come with a sweet tooth and to talk some history and be in a very historic building. Its on East 7th Avenue.")
