Closed Havana Power Plant and out of service tracks

 In 2019 Havana, Illinois lost it's biggest employer the Havana Power Station when it closed down. This now leaves a vacant power plant which the fate of the property remains unclear and now out of service railroad tracks. However there are empty coal hoppers on the power plant property tracks. Illinois & Midland may retrieve them one day or may not. 

The power plant opened in 1978 and barges from the river delivered coal up until 1996. Chicago& Illinois Midland started hauling coal trains in 1996 to the plant. The line in area probaby served other businesses prior as I once seen a rail from the 1950's. God knows there was alot of old warehouses alot has since been torn down along that line. I was never able to catch a coal train on film on this line however from 2000 til 2001 I seen several either on my way to work at nearby Intermet Havana Foundry or watched them roll by the foundry property when i sat out on lunch break smoking on third shift.  I never seen the power through just the coal hoppers rolling by. If there is a good memory from that foundry it is that.

Vista announced they would close their power plant at Havana and other locations due to changing regulatory environment and bull shit. In 2019 the plant closed as we as the last train to hit those tracks. While not abandoned its out of service.

Its to be noted my friend told me the original generator at the area was opened in 1948 as the Illinois Power Company. An interesting piece of Havana history.

2021 power plant and track pictures:










































2017 Pictures of BNSF power which IMRR used sitting at the plant.














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