The Salem & Southeastern Railroad splits to the left from the St. Louis, Salem, & Little Rock Railroad just north of Salem. The Salem & Southeastern Railroad was constructed in 1873, anticipating the arrival of the St. Louis, Salem, and Little Rock Railroad. Constructed from a convergence point north of Salem, the Salem & Southeastern Railroad was built to ease transportation of iron ore from Orchard Iron Mine, now in the middle of Salem, but then south of town. Thousands of tons of ore were piled near the mine awaiting the arrival of the railroad to transport freight. The railroad was constructed and completed before the Salem Branch made it to town. As soon as service began, trains moved along the track from Orchard Iron Mine to the main line. The railroad construction was met with much controversy, due to the proposed route. The route was surveyed to run along McMurtrey Creek through Salem. South of downtown, the railroad ran through what was known as “the Water Privilege”, which was an established sanctuary for all citizens to be able to access a water source. The railroad won the fight, and the railroad was built through the middle of the water sanctuary. Today, all that remains of the Water Privilege is a small park known as Murray Park. In 1881, the Salem & Southeastern Railroad was extended past Orchard Iron Mine, with the goal of reaching Riverside Iron Mine, southeast of Salem. The new route ran straight south from the original terminus, before veering southeast at the current-day intersection of Roosevelt and Oak Street. Here, the old railroad bed is visible journeying into the woods. The old bed is visible from the Tiger Trail, a public trail at Salem Upper Elementary. They did not utilize the old railroad bed, but ran a new trail below it. As it exits the Salem R-80 School District Property, it crosses Spring Creek before dancing across a field. At the intersection of Doss Road and CR 5083 just south of Salem City Limits, a spur railroad was built from the Salem & Southeastern Railroad. This spur provided freight service to the Stephens-Woodside Iron Mine, a mining endeavor owned by 2 prominent business men in Salem. The spur was removed when the Salem & Southeastern Railroad was closed. The Salem & Southeastern Railroad continues southeast from the spur. It makes it’s way towards P Hwy, which is runs relatively parallel to for a couple miles. It dips further south, and crosses Dry Valley Creek. Dry Valley Creek was a small, wet-weather stream that stays dry most of the year. However, at the crossing, there was a 600’ by 50’ tall wooden trestle to cross the stream. The bed abruptly stops on each side of the creek, 600’ apart. There are no remains of the trestle today. A bit further southeast from Dry Valley Creek, the railroad terminates at Riverside Iron Mine. It is said that the railroad did a loop east of the mine to make it easier to turn trains around. Riverside Iron Mine was in operation until 1888, when it was declared exhausted. The Salem & Southeastern Railroad was abandoned in 1888 when Riverside Iron Bank closed. The rails were removed and sold soon after. In 1908, the railroad bed was proposed to be reutilized in the expansion of the Missouri Southern Railroad from Bunker to Salem. From the intersection of Roosevelt and Oak Street, a new railroad bed was constructed to the current location of Wines Street, where the former Jamison Branch Railroad connected to the end of the Salem Branch. The Jamison Branch was proposed to be reutilized by the Salem, Winona, & Southern Railroad approaching from the south. Men from Salem wanted to speed these 2 new connections up, so they built a massive interchange at the crossing of the new Missouri Southern Railroad, and the new Salem, Winona, and Southern Railroad. Neither railroad was ever completed, and the interchange was never used. The interchange is visible on historicaerials.com at the intersection of Wines and Roosevelt Street. Change the map to 1955 for the best view. Today, all that remains of the Salem & Southeastern Railroad are old railroad beds carved throughout Salem. The spring-fed railroad pond is now used for educational programming at The Bonebrake Center. Orchard Iron Mine was filled in, and Riverside Iron Mine was filled with trash.
Article about the Salem & Southeastern Railroad’s valuation, when it was only 1 1/4 mile long and terminated at Orchard Iron Mine.
The Salem Branch; St. Louis Salem & Little Rock RR got to Salem in 1873 [started at Cuba in 1871]. The first major step was to build a wood piling trestle over the Meramec River. Some years there were floods where water got up to near the rails. With fast currents those caused major damages. Research so far has not determined when the first steel bridge was erected. [The location was named Bird's Nest]. BridgeHunters dot com does not know when the first replacing steel bridge was constructed.
You're doing right! Getting out on foot to the areas tells more than books, newspapers, politicians and even by us on Frisco.org. Keep nailing it! There is so much more to be known. Again, Thank you and your Salem Branch research team!
At those locations pictures, I can smell the ghost steam and smoke lingering. Those are invitations to return at anytime.
ref; Salem & Southeastern Railroad crosses Main Street (MO Hwy 19) just north of the Roadside Park. Hi Jacob, Was the Salem & Southeastern RR's junction with the Salem Branch's mainline at the location ~ 1 mile north from the Depot? That spot was where the turn-table w/ shed was located. From Salem, a short spur was added towards the SSW to a mine. Where was that junction at ?
