The Frisco’s Clinton Subdivision crossed the Missouri Pacific (MP) Kansas City Subdivision at Dodson, MO. Dodson is about East 81st Street and South Indiana in south Kansas City, MO. At Dodson, the MOP had a set of “lap” passing tracks. Not only did the Frisco connect with the MOP, but it also had a connection with the Kansas City Public Service (KCPS) Railroad, which operated a switching operation on the old “Country Club “ streetcar line that ran north to the Country Club Plaza. Beside the connection with the KCPS RR, the Frisco served two industries, RMF Steel, Pace Products, and it maintained a stub-ended team track. It was common to see flat car loads of utility poles being delivered to the Kansas City Power and Light Company. A small, 8’ x 12’, 3-sided shelter station served the passengers, and a water tank provided water for the steam locomotives before they began the climb out of the Blue River valley to Grandview, MO. Joe Collias’ book, Frisco Power, has a shot of the water tank. On occasion, my father let my brother and me tag along when he performed some of his duties. Such was the case on this Sunday afternoon during the winter of 1964-1965. We had just come down from Centropolis, MO on the motorcar. No trains operated on Sunday, and two minors would go unnoticed. It was time for the quarterly turnout inspection, and we spent most of that Sunday working our way down to Dodson. We checked the gauge, the points, the guard rails, the ties, the headblocks, and the switch stands. We got to be proficient at knowing what to look for during the inspections. My dad’s territory ended at Dodson, so after he took this picture, we turned the motorcar, and headed back to Centropolis. The shot is looking to the Northeast, and the tank was located along the tree line in the background of the photograph. The Frisco maintained the mainline crossing and the MP maintained the passing track, near track. Note the compromise bars on the passing track as the rail weight decreased through the crossing. The MP did not want to spend more money than necessary, but made the Frisco pay for, and maintain a 132-136 pound diamond crossing. View looking northeast.
