Toledo, Peoria, & Western in Illinois

While driving U.S. 24 west of Gilman, I noticed two signals (now vandalized) which were turned away from the track. These were at Forest, IL, one on the east side of Hwy. 47 and one on the west. I assumed that they were for eastbound trains, since they were on the south side of the track. Could these possibly have been the approach and home signals for a now-removed line that ran through Forest?

Thanks.

That's the former Wabash/N&W/NS line from Chicago going through Forrest. In today's times, it has been cut back far to the north in Manhattan, where the Metra Southwest Service ends. Further south, just before Strawn, the track resumes to connect the Bloomer Line's ex-IC route to Gibson City. NS resumes south of Gibson City and then joins the main Decatur line near Bement; they switched to trackage rights on CN to get between Gibson City and Chicago.

From Manhattan to Custer Park, the Wabash right-of-way serves as part of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail, with the Manhattan-Joliet portion using the old Milwaukee Road route that once ran to Momence.