Updates on all of my publications
Near the south end of the Oak Hill branch, the tracks pass through Carondelet Park on the south side of St Louis. A trio of MP ‘Screaming Eagle’ U30Cs lead an empty ore train south through the park on October 18, 1975. These ore trains originated on the 26-mile Pea Ridge branch and connected to the…
In a scene that could easily be the 1950s, KCS E7 #12 stops in Grandview with the southbound Southern Belle in August of 1969. When inaugurated in the 1940s, the Southern Belle operated with sleepers, a diner-lounge and chair cars, and made the KC – New Orleans trek in just over 21 hours. By 1969,…
Orchard Farm is our next stop on the CB&Q’s Keokuk – St Louis “K” line, 16 miles from West Alton. Orchard Farm is a small community, at the time hosting an elevator and a depot, each with its own siding. CB&Q U25B # 103 is on the point of another westbound freight as it rolls…
Springfield was home to the Frisco’s largest shops in both the days of steam and diesel. Heavy locomotive repairs and rebuilds were performed here since 1909. Constructed in 1948, the diesel shop served the Frisco and its successors until 1996, when it was closed by BNSF. Demolished in 2006, the shops are seen on June…
Next door to Murray yard in North Kansas City was Wabash’s Avondale yard. Being the western-most point on the Wabash system, the yard in North KC was busy and active, receiving traffic from St Louis, Chicago & Detroit. The yard featured a large roundhouse and locomotive servicnig facilities, which became property of the Norfolk &…