Pacific, MO

Discussion in 'General' started by Larry F., Jul 7, 2012.

  1. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    If you'll allow me to wax nostalgic for a moment, I've had an itch to know what something was for the longest time. Back in the late 50's we used to take old 66 from St. Louis to Rolla to see my grandparents and the highlights of the trip were a stop at the Diamond and going through Pacific. The "caves" on the north side of the road were mysterious and unknown to a kid (rather mundane when I found out what they were) but the itch I need scratched is what was on the south side of 66 and the tracks (straight south of the caves)? If memory serves it always had a cloud of dust over it and always seemed quite busy. Were these the gravel pits or something in support of the silica mining or something else entirely? Sounds silly but you know what an itch can do to you to you. Thanks in advance. Larry F.
     
  2. Ishmael

    Ishmael Member

    Those were gravel pits, Larry. The Meramec River was on the other side and the gravel was dredged out of the river. I'm not sure when it was abandoned, but my brother and I used to go fishing in the river at that point. I'm talking maybe 40 years ago. There were a couple of switch engines still on duty, diesels, but somewhere recently I saw a photo of a steam switch engine working there in the '50s. I believe the name was Meramec Sand & Gravel. Some of the buildings were still there the last time I went by last summer.
    I'll let you know if I remember where I saw the steam photo.

    Mike
     
  3. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    Hey, thanks a lot Mike-that itch is scratched. Larry
     
  4. Ishmael

    Ishmael Member

    You're welcome, Larry. I'm still trying to remember where I saw the steam engine photo. Also, the diesels were a light blue locomotive that looked like a GE70 tonner and a cream colored center cab loco. Can't identify the makers.

    Mike
     
  5. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

  6. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    On page 92 of Collias' Frisco Power is a picture of former SLSF 140, a 4-4-0, working the sand and gravel operation in Pacific. One can make out one of the "caves" in the background. Collias claims that a Whitcomb diesel replaced steam here. He refered to the business as the "St. Louis Material and Sand Co."

    Conflicting information is presented on page 48 of James Sandrin's Trackside around St. Louis 1952-1959 with Jim Ozment listed under "Indiana Northern". The pictures, dated December 30, 1957, show an 0-4-0 working Frisco gondolas between large piles of sand. The caption places this 2 miles west of Pacific, but those of us familiar with the area know that it is within a mile east of downtown. The structure on the right in the bottom picture looks like the one that still stands there today.

    Rich
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 10, 2012
  7. Ishmael

    Ishmael Member

    Pensive is right about the Trackside St. Louis book. That's where I saw the steam engine. Kirwhzkid also had the photo of one of the diesels I remember. Interesting how this information circulates.

    Mike
     
  8. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    Thanks to one and all for the input. I,ve got both books and indeed there they are. That liner note about the "two miles" through me off as I thought there may have been another operation. As a side note, does anyone know when they ceased operations?...and as a side side note, is the silica plant still functioning?
     
  9. Ishmael

    Ishmael Member

    Last time I was there, about six months ago. the silica plant was still operating.
     
  10. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Two weeks ago, the silica mine was in full swing, with a line of eight loaded cars on the siding, twelve waiting to be loaded and a dozen or so 4,000 pound sling-bags sitting on pallets a the loading dock.
     
  11. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    There was a gravel pit two miles west of Pacific just before it crossed the Meramec. There was also a wye out that way so the "Pacific Switcher" could turn the engine to head back into Lindenwood. My Dad used to catch that run in the summer in the late '40s. It would leave Lindenwood between 11 and 1, drop empties at the gravel plants, pull the loads and come back, sometimes fairly late.
    Pacific is where I got my first real good cab ride. My Mom drove me out there (here) and I got on the 4146 with Dad and rode around with him. He let me sit down and run a little bit and the fireman was amazed that I could blow a good crossing signal.
    The Silica plant is still busy after 100 years and the UP local switches it several times a week.
     
  12. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Thats' a great memory to have. Could you imagine that happening now a days? I doubt it would be allowed don't you?
     
  13. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Since Don brought up that there was indeed a gravel pit 2 miles west of Pacific before the Frisco crossed the Meramec river there, I questioned whether I was posting correct information up above. So I decided to go to Pacific and photograph the structure east of downtown. I don't know what kind of building you call it, but it seems material was loaded at the top and sifted into different sizes as it made its way down. Chutes were on all 4 sides of the building. The rows of alternating chutes are consistent with the Ozment photo.

    DSC_0036.JPG DSC_0039.JPG DSC_0040.JPG DSC_0041.JPG DSC_0042.JPG DSC_0045.JPG DSC_0046.JPG DSC_0047.JPG DSC_0049.JPG

    Rich
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2012
  14. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Rich, I don't think that Don was implying that there was not a sand and gravel operation east of Pacific, but that there was one west of Pacific as well.
     
  15. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    You're right, Keith. What I was worried about is that the caption in the Sandrin book was right, that it was a picture of the operation west of Pacific.

    For the record, I did try to see if there was any evidence of the west Pacific gravel pit. When I got close to the river, there was a fence, a locked gate, and a sign that said "NO TRESPASSING, Violators will be prosecuted" so I thought it wise not to snoop around. I'd been to the area 5 years ago, when there was access (see pictures) but I saw no evidence of a gravel operation though there was plenty of gravel there.

    I studied a Google map of the area before I went exploring and thought there were traces of the wye that Don mentioned. That area is a big corn field now.

    DSC_0023.JPG DSC_0029.JPG DSC_0030.JPG

    Rich
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 12, 2012
  16. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    The pit I was talking about was on the right side of the tracks as you approach the bridge from the east. They did indeed have a little 0-4-0 there as I remember seeing it years ago. It was later moved to an area by the caves in Pacific and was owned by a person who was in our 1522 restoration group. He eventually sold it but had plans to restore it. Once he saw how much work was involved in the 1522 and how badly his engine had deteriorated, I think he hung it up. I don't know who bought it.
    I'm a little hazy about the wye location, but I know there was one out that way.
     
  17. Larry F.

    Larry F. Member

    I think it's so cool that that I got so much response to my original question...a heartfelt thanks to one and all and especially to you Rich for taking the time to photograph it. It certainly has changed since I remember it. Larry F.
     
  18. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    You're welcome, Larry. I had an "itch" also.

    Rich
     
  19. Jane

    Jane Member

    OMG! I just saw this thread today, in 2021 - 9 years after the posts about Pacific, MO and the gravel pits. Mike was right when he said, "Those were gravel pits, Larry. The Meramec River was on the other side and the gravel was dredged out of the river. I'm not sure when it was abandoned, but my brother and I used to go fishing in the river at that point. I'm talking maybe 40 years ago. There were a couple of switch engines still on duty, diesels, but somewhere recently I saw a photo of a steam switch engine working there in the '50s. I believe the name was Meramec Sand & Gravel. Some of the buildings were still there the last time I went by last summer.
    I'll let you know if I remember where I saw the steam photo." Meramec Sand & Gravel was a company, and sand & gravel plant, built by my father in 1952. The Meramec River and sand is nearby - and it was important to have the railway come to and through the plant, to be able to ship the sand and gravel to its destination. He sold it many years ago now - and today, I understand, it is a fertilizer plant (although I have not checked that out.) Pacific, MO remains a center for sand and gravel production. Back then, it was used for construction. Today, the silica is used for a variety of purposes, including fracking I believe.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 27, 2021
  20. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    I doubt that the silica sand is used for fracking; its grains are not round and therefore pack together which is not desirable for fracking sand. Silica sand, however, is highly valued as the major constituent in glass making.
     

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