Three stall roundhouse at Salem, about 1920. Photo from James Memorial Library, used with permission. Pat Moreland, Union, MO
The caption reads that the three times a week local to Salem originated from Newburg. I did not realize this and it will create more operational possibilities for Newburg yard. Brad
I'm not sure that the caption is correct. When the first diesel came to the branch in 1950, it was kept at Cuba and fueled by James Ira Breuer, who at the time ran the local Standard Oil Dealership. It is possible, however, that as traffic dwindled from daily except Sunday service down to three-times per week in the early 1960s, that the local out of Newburg would have provided service to Salem. I would love to know the correct operations myself. One of those things I should have asked my Grandpa before he passed. Pat Moreland, Union, MO
My grandfather, John Nelson, worked at the Salem roundhouse from about 1918 to about 1923. He was laid off during an economic downturn and never got back. His wife moved the family to St. Louis and he followed months later. The guy setting on the turntable on the right close to the camera sure looks like him. Can anyone out there positively ID these guys?
Pat, Do not regret not asking your Grandfather. Back in the 1980s when I was working in that area quite a bit, I spent some time following up the Salem Branch, but never really took the time to research it very diligently. Now it's too late. Such is life. By the way, very interesting photograph and caption.
Does anyone have pictures of Sligo Furnace Company's #1, #2, #3 and #6 rod steam locomotives? #5 may have been a 1905 Davenport 2-6-0? Any pictures of the S&E RR depots at Dillard, East-End and at Sligo? Jacob found the depot in a gas jump store in Bixby.
The Thursday, February 19, 1931 edition of the Salem Post describes a fire at the roundhouse that caused minor burns to several of the local volunteer firefighters. The fire started in a shed adjoining the roundhouse, which contained about 20 barrels of flammables, including motor oil, coal oil, valve oil, turpentine, and cleaning fluid. Two locomotives were inside but were undamaged. The roundhouse itself was relatively unscathed, with the firefighters dousing it with water to prevent the fire from spreading. The Thursday, May 18th, 1933 edition of the same paper describes the closing of the roundhouse and moving of equipment to Cuba. This was done on account of the daily train originating in Cuba and returning the same day. The article notes that Cuba had no roundhouse or other structure to store locomotives and conduct maintenance or repairs. Affected by the move were foreman A.S. Abbot, and his crew of Ralph Sexton, Earl Sexton, and Matt Gibbs. The moving of equipment from Salem to Cuba started on Tuesday, May 16, 1933. The building itself would linger on for a few more years as the office of the Missouri Walnut Company. Both articles are from the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project collection, shsmo.newspapers.com. Pat Moreland Wesco, Missouri
