The floor plan shown here includes descriptive labels for the primary original use of the various rooms or areas currently found on the second floor of the depot museum. We encourage you to stop by the museum for a personal tour, but for now you can take our photo tour to get an idea of the treasures from the past that you will find. Clicking on most of the floor plan areas will show you a sampling of those treasures. Enjoy!
Rooms and their stories
Select a room to read about its original purpose and view any associated museum photograph.
Engineer's Storage Room
Used by the Civil Engineer assigned to this division headquarters depot to store equipment, plans and spare material needed to keep the railroad in operation. Today it displays Amboy family history.
Civil Engineer's Room
An office for the Civil Engineer assigned to this Division Headquarters to maintain 250 miles of track, telegraph, bridges and railroad structures to keep this rail line in operation. Today it contains artifacts of Amboy's social history.
Upstairs Vault
Used to store cash receipts after being accounted for by the accountants and to store cash payroll until it could be disbursed by the paymaster. Today it displays 19th century household items.
Dispatcher's Room
Housed the dispatchers of this line who worked 24/7 to keep fast passenger, slow freights and local trains moving in two directions on a single track. Today it contains the museum's toy collection.
Telegrapher's Room
Housed the telegraphers who kept in constant contact with every station on the 250 mile rail line, both receiving location reports and sending out orders for all trains moving on the line. Today it displays artifacts of Amboy's first responders: its police and fire departments.
Accountants' Room
Housed the accountants, bookkeepers and paymasters who accounted for all payments made for both freight and passenger service, while also making out the weekly cash pay envelopes for employees. Today it displays material from Amboy's military veterans from the Civil War to the Gulf War.
Division Superintendent's Office
Office of the manager of all train crews, shop workers and station agents on the 250 mile Northern Division of the Charter Line of the Illinois Central Railroad. Today it provides a display by Sensient Flavors, Amboy's largest employer.
Private Office
Adjoining the Superintendent's office, provided a workspace for his secretary as well as space for the files necessary for the operation of railroad division with several hundred employees. Today it displays the past of Amboy's campfire Girls and a sampling of the museum's extensive rock and mineral collection.
Upstairs Hallway
Unlike the downstairs, provided individual access to all upstairs rooms. Today it displays Amboy's sport and commercial history.
