Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Locust Street Whistle Post

— GM & O Railroad Heritage Trail —

Locust Street Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, March 18, 2025

1. Locust Street Marker

Inscription. Whistle posts were placed about a quarter mile before a grade crossing. Their purpose was to alert the engineer of an upcoming road crossing. Upon seeing a whistle post, the engineer would begin blowing the train's whistle to warn oncoming vehicles of the approaching train. This is the southbound whistle post for the Locust St. crossing.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 38° 26.892′ N, 90° 12.054′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe County. It is on East McKee Street 0 miles east of N Briegel St, on the right. Marker (and the replica whistle stop post) are both close beside the west edge of the G. M. & O. Railroad Heritage Trail, 20-25 yards south of the dead-end of E McKee St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 238 E McKee St, Columbia IL 62236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great

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River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: American Legion Memorial Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Spirt of the American Doughboy (about 700 feet away); Corporation Line Sign (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of Post No. 581, American Legion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Monroe Brewery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gundlach-Wagner House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gundlach-Grosse House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Koch House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Also see . . . Updates (GM&O Heritage Trail). Excerpt:

Whistle Posts - Reproduction whistle posts were also added for the northbound and southbound Rueck Rd crossing as well as the southbound Locust St. crossing. The pattern for these came from an original whistle post that a trail proponent found left partially
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standing for the northbound Centerville Ave./South Metter crossings. The original will be restored and returned to its former location once that section of the trail is paved. The reproduction posts were also made by General Machine.

(Submitted on April 10, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 21 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on April 6, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.