Does anyone know the exact date and circumstances of the destruction of the Belton depot? I understand it was in the late 1950s but I have never found any details.
It was torn down in 1964. According to several sources, the red bricks used in the platform were used in the construction at that time of the city mayor's house.
Are there any known pictures or floor plans for the KCCS depot in Belton, MO? I understand it was gone early on, both lines using the KCO&S depot.
Indeed the KCCS depot was gone early. The centennial history of Belton implies that the both the KCCS and KCOS depots were razed at about the same time, although the book is fuzzy about that date. It states that the "new" Frisco depot was built between 1900 and 1909. My Eastern Division diagram book does not list an erection date for the "new" depot. I think that we can deduce a date when the two depots were razed. 1) The 1907 Sanborn maps show the new Frisco depot, and the KCCS depot is not depicted. 2) The new Frisco depot was not built to the 1906 standard plans, so we can assume that its construction predates 1906. 3) During 1900-1901 the Frisco embarked on a rebuilding program in which the Highline was brought-up to modern standards. Lacking other evidence, I believe that the KCCS and KCOS depots were razed and the new Frisco depot was built circa 1901. That Frisco depot was razed during 1964. The KCCS depot was located on the railroad's west side of the tracks between Walnut and Ella. A chat platform remained at this location. Good luck with your quest. Finding pictures of either the KCCS or the KCOS depot will not be easy.
From Richard Crabtree on the Frisco Rails Across Missouri Facebook group. Here we are at the Frisco depot in Belton, MO around 1910. We see Frisco No. 81 4-4-0 Eight wheeler getting ready to leave the depot. Karl Brand: The train is southbound KCCS passenger number 5, which was the through Kansas City, MO to Springfield, MO train that operated via Olathe, KS; Belton; Harrisonville; Clinton; Deepwater; Osceola; Humansville; Walnut Grove; Ash Grove, MO. Locomotive number 81, nee KCCS 203, was built by Manchester Locomotive Works during 1882. The train is on the still extant KCCS mainline. The connection track to the Frisco is visible. At the time the KCCS was still “independent” of the Frisco.
From Richard Crabtree on the Frisco Rails Across Missouri. Here we see a Frisco Bull Moose with combo car at the Frisco depot in Belton, Missouri. Photograph by T.B. Karl Brand: Photographer was standing on the Kansas City, Clinton and Springfield (KCCS) or Leaky Roof connection with the Frisco, former Kansas City Osceola and Southern (KCOS).
