During the mid-1920's the Frisco offered daily passenger service to nearly every community that it served in Southeast Missouri. Seven train sets plus one Bull Moose had the area covered, and provided mainline connections at Cape, Brooks Jct., and Hayti. It seems odd, but Campbell appears to be the center of the secondary passenger operations, since 2 train sets and the Bull Moose started their daily work from this town, and the River Division secondary passenger trains did not call on Chaffee. My dad and grandfather always referred to any gas-electric as a Bull Moose, and the Frisco Employee Magazine (FEM) confirms this nomenclature in several articles. The Jan 1930 issue notes that during 1913, a vet delivered a baby on a Bull Moose trailer while it traveled between Arbor and Advance. Articles in the FEM also note that these branch line and secondary passenger runs were prized runs, and in general only crews with high seniority were awarded these trains. It was a matter of going to work in the morning and being home everyday by suppertime. The day was long, however. Trains assumed several "numbers" during their run, as they changed railroad direction, and made turns up dead-end branches. In a couple of locations, the lack of a wye required back-up moves until the train reached a wye. Water was readily available on the branch lines, but fuel stops were limited to Campbell - coal, Cape, Kennett, & Hayti - oil & coal.
That is a great chart! Thanks for posting that because I'm seriously gathering info to develop a prototype switching layout that I can operate with some degree of authenticity. I try to be picky about accuracy when information and photographs are available. I have question about the passenger train that stopped at Zalma. I have a photo dated around 1920 showing an ancient 4-4-0, with the tender full or topped off with wood blocks, pulling 3 box cars and an old wooden 1880s era wood combine. Would that maybe be an extra? Were the dailies all passenger cars with maybe a head end car for local freight or produce/milk? Just curious if any specific train consists are recorded.
Jim, If only my great-grandfather were still alive. He could have answered all of your questions because he was involved in all of the line activity from Cape to Poplar Bluff from the original construction of the line through about 1920 when he left the railroads altogether.
Heavy sigh. If only we could go back. My grandpa is the reason I'm even modeling the Zalma branch. It's kind of like my memorial for him. Not in a weird way but kind of a personal motivation so to speak. He grew up near Greenbrier, born in 1915. The earliest year of my era, 1915-1925. I sure do miss him.
Karl, Outstanding work. I think this is a must-have for any fan of the web of River Division branch lines and subdivisions. This is pretty good visual representation of why I've found the Caruthersville Branch between Kennett and Hayti to be an interesting modeling topic. As I see this, I'm once again pondering the move to mid-20s modeling. Not only does this depict more traffic, but it also allows for including the Deering/Pascola Branches at Pascola. I know that that Bragg City and Pascola could be "squz" in to my layout room, and if I wanted to double-deck or try to beg for an extension under the stairs and into our computer/kid's recreation room, I might be able to include some of Hayti. What program do you use for your illustrations? Best Regards,
The Kennett-Caruthersville segment and the Hoxie Sub were the speedways of this era. Passenger trains were allowed 35 mph. Although it is not a true CAD system, I use MS Visio for my drawings.
I believe that the passenger trains listed were passenger only, and most likely consisted of a single head-end car and coach. The train in your photo may have been the regularly scheduled mixed from Campbell.
Thanks for the additional information, Karl. Even if not a true CAD system, it looks very professional. The color designation is very helpful, too. Best Regards,
Nice map! Looks a lot like the tonnage charts on BN. I know it's not, but the appearance is similar. Bull Moose, the terms just keep coming. Bill Jackson
