Abandoned Illinois Central Railroad Facilities in McComb, Mississippi - Rainy Afternoon Exploration | Outdoor Adventure Journal
Story and Photos By Ken Hulsey
A month ago, my travels took me through McComb, Mississippi, where I had the opportunity to view several pieces of vintage Illinois Central Railroad equipment. This included a 4-8-2 steam locomotive, #2542, and the consist of railcars behind it. If you read my piece from last month, you'll recall that I spotted an old concrete coaling tower in the distance and vowed to explore it on my next visit. Well, on Monday, I got my chance to do just that.
During my research on McComb's rich railroad history, I had also viewed an aerial view of the site and discovered the locations of the old roundhouse and car shops that had once served as the railroad's regional headquarters for many decades, before the line was acquired by the Canadian National Railroad. I was able to find these locations, now overgrown with brush.
Aside from the tower itself, I discovered the last remaining structure on the grounds, which was in total disrepair. Inside, I found abandoned electronics, schematics, and blueprints that had been ransacked by looters over the years. I searched to see if there was anything of value left behind, such as items bearing the Illinois Central name or logo, but alas, anything of that nature had surely been carted off long ago.
In the end, the only thing I was able to take away from my exploration was the ability to photograph the area and experience the nostalgia of what this place must have been like in its heyday. It must have been quite a sight to behold back in the day.
While the overall structure is in pretty good shape, there is some graffiti on the bottom section and a few broken windows - the typical signs of an abandoned building. However, it's clear the city takes pride in this historic landmark. They've hung a nice banner on the side facing the road, depicting a train traveling beneath the tower. This is a thoughtful touch that makes me hopeful the city may have plans to clean up and restore the tower in the future. It would make a great landmark for the community.
The former Illinois Central roundhouse is easy to spot from the air, but its location is rather hard to discern on the ground. The grass has reclaimed most of what would have been the locomotive stalls. However, some areas of concrete are still visible. I particularly enjoyed this view because it showcases one of the locomotives that would have been serviced here, now on display just yards away.
More service bays can bee seen just south of the location of the roundhouse. I'm not certain if this would have been for locomotives or railcars? Being so close to the roundhouse I would imagine it was once more locomotive service facilities. This area is easier to spot than the roundhouse itself.
The last remaining structure of the once vast Illinois Central Railway facilities is in total disrepair. Over the years, it has been looted and ransacked. There are even signs of a fire in the past. The roof has caved in, allowing the rain to pour freely inside on this day. The exact purpose of this facility is a bit of a mystery, but based on my observations, it seems to have had something to do with electronics, possibly serving as the railroad's dispatch office. Given the dilapidated state of the building, I'm surprised it wasn't torn down along with the rest of the facilities years ago.
My hope is that this suggestion helps generate interest in preserving and highlighting the area's significant railroad heritage. There is simply too much history here to ignore. This isn't meant to detract from the great work of the McComb City Railroad Depot Museum, which already has an impressive collection. Rather, I propose expanding their collection and moving it to the former Illinois Central site. This could create a truly impressive tourist destination for the region.
Just an idea to consider. Let me know what you think!
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