May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2107, leads LV1, a Scotty’s Rock train, south with PAL 2106, 2121 and 2100 trailing, on the elevated tracks past the location of the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in Central City, Kentucky, after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty’s Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation.
Around 1920 the IC elevated the mainline through Central City, KY. As part of the project the IC built a new passenger station. The station was a bit unusual, for the actual depot was at street level, and passengers/baggage/freight would take an elevator up to the tracks.
The IC crossed over the L&N’s “Owensboro & Nashville” line (where the bridge is in the curve) from Owensboro south to Adairville, KY. The Louisville and Nashville (L&N) passenger trains also used the station until the L&N dropped service on the line in 1941.
The IC discontinued passenger service on the Kentucky Division in 1957. It’s suspected the Central City station was demolished soon afterwards. (Thanks to Cliff Downey for the information on the depot!)
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.