michaelckelly.net | Rails Around Train guy – Railfan, Author, podcaster

Way Back Wednesday – Rock Island

Posted on January 27, 2016 by admin

It’s been well over 35 years since a Rock Island or Cotton Belt train rumbled across Missouri between St Louis and Kansas City via Freeburg. Shuttered by the Cotton Belt in the early 1980s, the scenic line, complete with 4 tunnels and several high bridges, has been officially abandoned west of Union, Mo. In fact, the line is currently being torn up in preparation of being converted to a biking & hiking trail.

The Rock Island completed this line from Kansas City to St Louis in 1905, but by that time, was not able to effectively compete with the more established Missouri Pacific and Wabash Railroads to the north. The foothills of the northern edges of the Ozarks were expensive and time consuming to build through, delaying completion for some time.

When the Rock Island fell onto hard times in the 1960s, this line suffered greatly from deferred maintenance. Below, eastbound Rock Island train # 74 passes through Freeburg, milepost 118, on July 3, 1975. It has just exited tunnel #1 and is passing the forelorn Freeburg depot, making only 10-15 MPH. By this date it would take 12 hours or more to make it from Eldon, the halfway point, to either end of the line.

The above photo is found on page 175 of Rails Around Missouri. Released in 2013 and reprinted in 2015, this book contains over 500 all-color images from every part of the state, spread over 224 pages with historical content and maps. Hardcover. Our online price is $54.95 plus shipping. Postal or dealer orders can be made by contacting Don Banwart of Sekan Printing, 620-664-7014, or donald@sekan.com

Books are enroute!

Posted on December 15, 2015 by admin

FINALLY!! After many months, production copies of the hard cover reprint of Rails Around Missouri are on their way from Britegraphix in Ft Scott Kansas. They are expected to arrive Friday Dec 18, get signed, and shipped back out by Monday Dec 21. I realize this is cutting it close on Christmas orders, but hopefully yours will arrive in time!

Rails Around Missouri was first released in 2013. Reprinted and redesigned with a new hard cover (above), the book contains over 500 all-color images from every corner of Missouri, from St Joseph to St Genevieve, Hannibal to Springfield, STL to Kansas City. Order your copy today using the link below and your copy will come autographed by me. Currently available stock only for previous orders, new orders not guaranteed for Christmas, but it will still be a great gift!

For dealer or postal orders, contact Don Banwart, donald@sekan.com for more information, or call 620 664-7014

Merry Christmas!!

Rails Around Missouri reprint update

Posted on November 25, 2015 by admin

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! A delay at the printer has set the release back a week or so. Copes are expected to begin shipping out from Ft Scott, KS by December 4th. Copies ordered here on this website will ship out as soon as they arrive from the printer. Expect delivery mid-December.

As a reminder – This is a Reprint of the original 2013 hardcover book, and not a sequel or volume 2. The reprint has a different cover than the first run, at the printer’s request. A sequel is being explored, however. If you feel you have print-worthy material from any part of the state before 1975 or so, please contact me: atsf101@hotmail.com or 314 809-9310. I’d be happy to discuss it with you.

For this reprint, you can order using the link below, and your copy will come signed by me. Cover price is $59.95. Our price is $54.95 plus $8 shipping. Don’t miss out again! Order your today!

Throw Back Thursday – Frisco Style

Posted on November 12, 2015 by admin

Valley Park sits on the Meramec River at the bottom of Kirkwood Hill. At one time, the Frisco had a hotel, car shops, and an art-deco concrete passenger station located here. The two main tracks converge in Valley Park to single track from both directions to cross the Meramec River. Frisco GP38-2 #468 leads westbound train $437A past the signal on September 15, 1979. Photo by our friend Daniel Schroeder.

The above is an excerpt from Rails Around Missouri, Chapter Five, page 121. Rails Around Missouri is currently in its second hard cover print run, and is due out by Thanksgiving 2015. You can order your copy via the link below, and your copy will come signed by the author, and in time for Christmas! Postal or dealer orders are also an option directly from the printer. Contact Don Banwart, donald@sekan.com or call 620 664-7014.

The book is packed with over 500 all-color images from between 1946 – 1986, and from every corner of the state. Our online price is $54.95 plus $8 shipping. If it is a gift, please email me after your order to make sure I have that info: atsf101@hotmail.com

Throwback Thursday, Katy style

Posted on November 5, 2015 by admin

Franklin, at milepost 189, was the site of a large yard and trainmaster’s office. The yard facilities included a roundhouse, back shop, water treatment plant, car department, scales, and diesel servicing. Leon Sapp was the MKT Trainmaster for this division around 1970, and according to Leon, the yard here was large but underutilized. Rail was 60-70 pounds, and by September 1970, was being cannibalized in places for use on the Moberly branch, which had very light rail. Extra 229 North is rolling past the weed-choked yard, headed for St Louis. (Leon Sapp-photo)

The above is an excerpt from Rails Around Missouri, Chapter One, page 30. Rails Around Missouri is currently in its second hard cover print run, and is due out by Thanksgiving 2015. You can order your copy via the link below, and your copy will come signed by the author, and in time for Christmas! Postal or dealer orders are also an option directly from the printer. Contact Don Banwart, donald@sekan.com or call 620 664-7014.