Branson – 1975

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“Having reached the Oklahoma border (on the Frisco), we’ll shift to the Missouri Pacific’s Carthage Subdivision, part of MP’s storied White River Division. Beginning at Branson on the morning of September 6, 1975, MP SD40 #3038 leads train #202 over Lake Taneycomo and around the curves approaching downtown Branson. Train #202 carried traffic from the Southern Railway connection at Memphis to the Union Pacific connection at Kansas City. Train #202 would be re-symboled as train SMU a few years later.

A few minutes after the passage of train #202, the tri-weekly Cotter, Arkansas to Aurora, Missouri local, train #506, passes through the same location, led by GP9 #1684. The train is about to pass under US65 and turn north into downtown Branson. Today these rails belong to the Missouri & North Arkansas RR, and are home to the Branson Scenic Railway.

 

The above passage & photos from “Rails Around Missouri” can be found in Chapter Eight: Southwest Missouri. “Rails Around Missouri” was released on May 10, 2013 as a 224-page hard-cover book containing over 500 all-color photos like the ones above. Your copy is available for $47.95 plus shipping, and will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover. (Please note: less than 100 copies remain with the Frisco cover, so don’t delay.)

 

Important ‘Rails Around Missouri’ update 8-6-13

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Rails Around Missouri inventory almost 3/4 sold out! If you are still “thinking about it”, don’t wait too much longer as the inventory sits at just under 300 copies left out of 1000. The Frisco cover has only 100 copies remaining, and the KCS cover sits at 192 copies remaining here at “Rails” in Ballwin, Missouri.

The printed cover price is $54.95, but your price is $47.95 plus padded USPS Priority Mail shipping. Choose between the Frisco or KCS cover, and your copy will come signed by the author. DON’T WAIT! We expect the book will be completely sold out by Christmas.

‘Missouri’ Ins & Outs 7-26-13

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“The Illinois Central offered Chicago – St Louis service in the form of the Green Diamond and the Daylight. Both trains made daily round trips between the two cities, with the Green Diamond originating in St Louis, and the Daylight originating in Chicago. The Daylight is seen arriving in St Louis in October 1949 behind a pair of E8s.” (Joe Collias)

This week’s selection from Rails Around Missouri can be found in Chapter Five: St Louis & Surrounding Area. Rails Around Missouri was released as a 224-page hard cover book on May 10, 2013. The book features over 500 all-color photos like the one above, plus maps and depots. Your copy is available for $47.95 plus shipping. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover, and your copy will come signed by the author. We are over 1/2 way to sold out, so order today!

As a bonus, here’s an alternative shot of the Illinois Central along the St Louis riverfront in 1966. The image is copyrighted to Blackhawk Films, and therefore was not able to be included in the book.

 

Next, in a shot that IS in the book and also in the St Louis chapter, GM&O F3 #883-A leads the Alton Limited out of St Louis Union Station in July 1949, bound for Chicago. (Joe Collias)

 

 Finally, a shot not included is this one of GM&O Alco DL-109 #272 in an undated photo at St Louis Union Station. In addition to the well-known St Louis – Chicago service over the former Chicago & Alton route, the GM&O also offered “Rebel” service from St Louis to Tennessee and Alabama over the original Gulf, Mobile & Ohio routes. Power for the “southern” lines was almost exclusively Alco, while service to Chicago was almost exclusively EMD-powered. This shot was not included as it is a duplicate slide, and the photographer could not be identified. Thanks for looking!

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LOOK FOR US AT THE BELLEVILLE GREAT TRAIN EXPO JULY 27-28!

 

KCS revisited for 7-19-13

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 When it came to picking a shot for the cover of Rails Around Missouri that might best represent the Kansas City side of the state, the logical choice of railroad was the Kansas City Southern. Photographer Allen Maty spent a lot of time in Grandview shooting the KCS, and had provided quite a few shots to choose from. Here are a few samples above and below, along with what ended up being on the cover, plus a shot from Goodman Hill down south.

Above, KCS SD40s #s 629, 627 and an unidentified F7 lead a southbound freight past the Grandview depot in September, 1971. Below, KCS E8 #25 is stopped at the Grandview depot with train #2, the northbound Southern Belle in August, 1969, just 3 months prior to its discontinuance.

 

 Next we have the shot that was chosen for the KCS cover: southbound train #1, the Southern Belle, also in August 1969.

Finally, a selection from Chapter 4 – The Kansas City Southern:

 

“Goodman, at milepost 184.6, is just inside the McDonald County line in deep southern Missouri, and is the crest of Goodman Hill. The engineer has KCS SD40s 662, 650 & 666 in full throttle and dropping sand as they grind up the hill with a northbound freight on September 14, 1980. (Ken Albrecht)”

Rails Around Missouri was released on May 10, 2013, and is already over 60% sold out in 2 months. The book is 224-pages, hard cover, and contains over 500 all-color photos like the ones above. DON’T MISS OUT! Order your copy today for $47.95 plus shipping, and it will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover (contents identical).

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Revisiting the Rock Island

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Ten miles east of the Osage River bridge is the town of Meta, where the Rock Island had a depot with a train order office. Eastbound train #74 was scheduled out of Eldon at 10:35pm and due through Meta at 11:12pm. With bad track conditions, the train often passed through Meta in daylight hours. Such is the case on June 22, 1975, as GP40 #332 leads 2 other GP40s and a geep through Meta. Mark Nelson

This selection from “Rails Around Missouri” can be found in Chapter Seven – Central Missouri. “Rails Around Missouri” is a new 224-page hard cover book containing over 500 all-color photographs like the one above. Your copy is available for $47.95 plus shipping and will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover (contents identical).

With over 800 photos submitted, not all could be used. Continuing in our series of shots in & out of the book, the shot below is definitely worth being in print, much less sharing. A year and 1/2 after the shot above, the Nelsons returned to Meta and captured eastbound train #74 again passing through town, this time led by geep #4531 on January 22, 1977. Shot from the same vantage point, snow blankets the scene as the 4531 leads 3 other geeps and a GP40 through town. Mark Nelson

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