Springfield, IL

What’s happening at this stop

A short whistle-stop, not a display: 4014 is scheduled to pause at the Springfield Amtrak depot mid-morning for about half an hour on its run south toward St. Louis. There is no ticketing, no organized viewing area, and no cab access — expect a trackside view, and expect the timing to shift with railroad operations.

This is the state capital where Lincoln boarded a train for Washington in 1861 and where his funeral train returned in 1865.

Why this stop matters

Springfield's depot is associated more with one passenger than any other: Lincoln boarded a train here in February 1861 bound for Washington, and his funeral train returned along the same route four years later. The Wabash, the Alton, the Illinois Central, and the Chicago & Alton all served the Illinois capital during the era 4014 was built.