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 … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Rock Island
While trains 73 & 74 were the only scheduled through freights across the St Louis line, the Rock Island did operate locals in each direction our of Eldon. On the est end, these locals served customers at Union, Owensville, Belle, … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
With the Rock Island’s 1980 shutdown ending operations over the Rock’s St Louis line, the response to seeing a train on this bridge was very enthusiastic. The most common response we’ve received is “Wow, I’ve never seen a train … Continue reading
Around the corner from Sheffield and Tower 8 is Bridge 19, the location of four main tracks with crossovers. The Santa Fe was a main tennant of the KCT trackage through here, from Big Blue Jct., past Union Station … Continue reading