Consolidated Freight Car Shops - Springfield / Kansas Avenue / West Yard - Springfield, MO

Rick McClellan · Jan 24, 2024

Does anyone have a decent shot of the SPRINGFIELD SHOPS sign of the Consolidated Car Shop in Springfield?

I want to make a building front of the shops with the sign and need to know what kind of framework was attached to the stainless steel letters.

Thanks.

diesel shop · Jun 25, 2012

Rick McClellan · Jan 24, 2024

Excellent. Thanks Gary.

Nice to see the shop with the sign still on top.

One of our local Kansas City modelers made some block letter sets that will be "close enough". Just need to make a frame and a building front to set it on. In my opinion, I always thought the Car Shop was a landmark with that big sign.

Were those stainless steel letters like the ones on the Diesel Shop?

Thanks again.

diesel shop · Jan 24, 2024

I would say yes.

But don't really know.

I have the H and O from the Diesel Shop sign.

klrwhizkid · Aug 1, 2020

From Richard Crabtree on the Frisco Rails Across Missouri Facebook group:
The Frisco West Shop and Yards in Springfield, Missouri. At time of its construction employed 700 men. This was the largest building project that Springfield had ever seen. The Arnold Company of Chicago was hired to construct the shops, but had problems finding enough men to complete the job. They had started in 1907and hope to be completed 1908, they did not finish till 1909. The Frisco West Shops were completed and open the public on July 5th 1909 at a cost of $2,000,000 (50,424,986.77) adjusted for inflation. They have all since been torn down, only the outlines of the foundations remain.
Photo 1) Opening day July 5th 1909 ~ people would ride a train from the Frisco Depot or take the a street car to the yards.
Photo 2) 1910 Sanborn Map showing the New Frisco Shops ~ MU Digital Collection
Photo 3) The Frisco West Shops in Springfield, Missouri Spring of 1909.
Photo 4) Inside the shops at one of the many work bays July 5th 1909