ROCK SPRINGS CENTER

DECATUR, IL

La Place To Be As I was out and about following DREI 101, La Place was one of the spots I was very much hoping to shoot. I'd shot here before with a friend once, and the shot hadn't come out well, so to go back and get some much better positioning was a treat. The elevator is what midwestern railroading is all about and was simply a must-shoot. I about didn't make it there in time, either, as I'd tried a shot at a crossing 2-3 miles back that didn't pan out. Good thing there's not much traffic out that way, eh?
La Place To Be Credit: Leo Blackwelder

Rock Springs Center is a shopping center located in Decatur, IL. It is situated in the heart of Decatur, making it easily accessible from the downtown area. It consists of two big box stores, Kohl’s and Menards, as well as a variety of other retailers. Rock Springs Center also features a variety of restaurants, including Chili’s, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut.

The shopping center provides a wide range of goods and services, including apparel, home furnishings, electronics, and more. There is also a large grocery store, Aldi, which sells fresh produce, bakery items, and other food products. In addition, the shopping center has a movie theater, featuring the latest films in both digital and 3D formats.

Rock Springs Center is a popular destination for visitors and residents alike, offering a variety of activities and entertainment. It regularly hosts events such as live music and outdoor movie screenings. Additionally, the shopping center has a playground for children, as well as a basketball court and an outdoor seating area.

The shopping center also provides plenty of parking, making it easy to access by car. Rock Springs Center is open seven days a week and is a great place to shop and eat. With its wide variety of stores, restaurants, and entertainment, Rock Springs Center is a popular destination in Decatur, IL.

ROCK SPRINGS CENTER is a Uncategorized or General Museum in DECATUR IL. US MID #8401700064

The museum is classed as GMU (Uncategorized or General Museums). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).

La Place To Be As I was out and about following DREI 101, La Place was one of the spots I was very much hoping to shoot. I'd shot here before with a friend once, and the shot hadn't come out well, so to go back and get some much better positioning was a treat. The elevator is what midwestern railroading is all about and was simply a must-shoot. I about didn't make it there in time, either, as I'd tried a shot at a crossing 2-3 miles back that didn't pan out. Good thing there's not much traffic out that way, eh?
It's A New Dawn The DREI's Decatur-Chrisman train, 101, gets out of Decatur pretty early most days - and today was no exception. Despite a slight delay, our newly certified engineer got the SD40-2 triplet underway pretty quickly as light takes hold of its surroundings finally. The DREI is a young railroad, born from a struggling CSX line. Remnants of its CSX - and previously even B&O - past still linger along the way, such as the no trespassing signs at the bridge over Lake Decatur, still lettered for CSX. Signs of fall are beginning to appear as the leaves turn and the sunrise (and sunset) change their times, which allowed for some fine golden morning light to shine across the scenery. Nice start to the day.
Slowdeath All good things must come to an end. MEC609 rests at Mervis Recycling in Decatur, waiting for its turn to be torn apart. MEC609 is far from an original MEC unit and far from home. The true identity of this engine is Milwaukee Road 156 - the legendary bicentennial unit. After 49 years, she’s been through a lot, but this is the end. Built in 1972 as the 3026, it was renumbered to 156 in 1973 during Milwaukee’s latest grand renumbering project. In 1975, the 156 was selected to be repainted into the railroads bicentennial scheme, where it would join railroads across the nation to celebrate the 200th birthday of the United States. It wore the scheme until 1977, crossing the system and making impressive meetups over time. The 156, back in its orange and black dress, remained in service with the Milwaukee until the company’s final bankruptcy in 1985, when it went with its sisters to the Soo Line. SOO renumbered it to 6333, banditized it, and ran it for two years. It was retired in ‘87 and sent to Morrison-Knudsen for a rebuild, where it gained a full sized fuel tank and other unspecified work. Turned out in April ‘88, the engine was promptly sold to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, or NdeM, along with 40 of its sisters. Given the number 13022, it ran in Mexico for 9 years, when it was given to TFM after a short stint on FNM and applied the new number 1420. From there, she worked in both Mexico and the US for a number of years before being moved to the US full time. Officially, it was renumbered KCSM 3269, but it never wore those marks. As TFM 1420, it operated until 2010 when the Pan Am Railways bought the engine and shipped it to Maine. It was promptly renumbered 609 and patched for a few months, then it was repainted into the dark blue and white of Pan Am, living in the Maine Central subsidiary. For 8 years, the 609 worked hard for the Pan Am, but time ran out in 2018 when she and two sister engines were sold to GATX and shipped off to Altoona. 156 never turned a wheel for them and instead sat idle for two years. Then, out of the blue, she appeared at Mervis in Decatur, missing parts and ready to be torn apart. Where is her future now? Likely joining the towering mountains of scrap metals in the facility. The MRHA and IRM have been contacted, apparently, about the status of 156, but Mervis is known for being quick to scrap. And so, given the information we have, it’s time to say goodbye to the bicentennial. 49 years of service isn’t a bad track record at all. Goodbye, MILW 156. EDIT: 156 is confirmed to have been purchased and saved! She ain't dead yet!
1957 Decatur Commodores Scorecard_8
1957 Decatur Commodores Scorecard_3
1957 Decatur Commodores Scorecard_2
1957 Decatur Commodores Scorecard_1
Flashpoint As it turned out, N&W 2156's return trip to St. Louis came exceptionally close to home. I met up with some new friends and we chased her from Tolono to Decatur, where the highlight was the gorgeous arches of the Wabash Bridge over Lake Decatur. This short little chase was a welcome break in the daily lull of quarantine life.
Golden Opportunity I never seem to shoot the DREI very often despite it being pretty local to me. My opportunities to do so typically fall on weekends that I don't usually like waking up very early on, but here and there I make the effort, especially when I'm basically invited out there. Can't argue with that much, but the timing was good, so hey, off I was. The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad is undergoing a power shuffle presently. The leaser fleet, made up of HLCX and FURX power of various colours and models, is going away, now replaced by power taken from the WSOR and by the freshly shopped WAMX 5909. Built as the NS 4616, this rare GP59 is new to the railroad, but far from a new locomotive. It's one of just 36 of its type, all built for Norfolk Southern in 1989, but NS pruned its roster of the remainders of the class in 2020, selling them to PRLX. In 2022, Watco purchased ten of the units and had them sent to Metro-East Industries for refurbishment and paint. It joins two SD45s - derated to SD40-2s - in todays train, the 101. I arrived in Decatur just as the three locomotives were starting to pull out of the yard, giving me just seconds to grab my camera and snatch a quick photo. With golden morning light on my side, it'd be hard to lose here. A fine start to a much needed day out.
1957 Decatur Commodores Scorecard_6
1957 Decatur Commodores Scorecard_5

Contact ROCK SPRINGS CENTER

ROCK SPRINGS CENTER
3939 NEARING LANE
DECATUR
IL
62521

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ROCK SPRINGS CENTER Information

MID # 8401700064
Name ROCK SPRINGS CENTER
Alternate Name ROCK SPRINGS CENTER
Classification Uncategorized or General Museums, , Midwest
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
NTEECC
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)
INCOME 0
REVENUE 0
LAT/LONG 39.823781, -89.012704
CODES FIPS State Code: 17
FIPS County Code: 115
US Census Tract: 001500
US Census Block: 3008