Someone forgot to tell this sentry that his shift ended years ago. He still stands there, warning motorists of trains that will never come again. This is on the "Henpeck Spur" or what was once the old Cherry Valley RR. This line survived longer than all of the others that once branched off of the Salem Branch. Most of the track was removed in 1952 or '53, but about a mile of it remained for many years afterward to serve Strumph Charcoal. The DOT-AAR tag indicates that it was still active in 1975 when the grade crossing inventory was initiated. This is also where the town and furnace of Midland once stood. The whole town, including the furnace, was destroyed in the Yadkin Creek flood of 1898. The road is Sanke Rd., about one mile east of Steelville. The roadbed is visible in the last two photos, running along the line of trees in the fourth photo and north of the gate in the fifth. Pat Moreland, Union, MO
I have heard of "The Henpeck" and that's the way it was refered to, unfortunately that is about the end of it. If you find out more, post it. Neat subject. I took out a bridge on that line somewhere, do not remember where. Wonder if it crossed a creek. I will look, I used to have some photos. Bill Jackson
Nice photos and text. I find myself drawn to visit the last faintly visible traces of my beloved Zalma branch. Sometimes I like to imagine an old tired steamer slowly rocking and swaying along the right of way. Maybe I'm nuts. I hope nobody steals or vandalizes that sign.
Bill, thanks for your continued interest in this line and the information that I've posted about it. The bridge that you removed would have been the one right off of the "main" where the lines diverged. I walked there several years ago and it seems to me that the deck had been removed, but the pilings were there and had never been sawed down. I don't believe that there were any other bridges on the spur. Jim, I have actually thought about removing the DOT-AAR tag that's on it, because all of the other plastic ones that I've seen have faded and cracked, or are gone completely. I'm guessing that all railroads had these plastic tags when the crossing inventory numbers first became mandatory, but most of the ones that are left are in bad shape. There's a perfect one on the Rock Island at the old yard at Page and Warson in St. Louis, but it's completely protected from the elements by a highway overpass. The crossbucks themselves are wood on a steel post and appear to be very, very old, probably from the steam era. Regardless, I decided to leave this one in place out of respect for anyone else that loves all things "SLSF". If you're nuts, I'm right there with you. I can imagine a 2-8-0 pushing three or four wooden boxcars up this spur, or a GP7 crawling along with a car or two at five miles an hour, hoping not to derail. Pat Moreland, Union Mo.
Pat - What a neat photo! - the old crossbuck still standing there on guard. Thanks for posting it. More Crawford County heritage! Ken
I am thinking the bridge was removed somewhere around 1976 or so. We did just remove the deck. The pIling was left. They were going to go back and cut them down, one of many things that didn't happen. It's a good memory, probably, would have never recalled, without your thread. It is one of my favorite lines. Bill Jackson
I first stumbled upon this crossing back in the mid 90's, good to hear it still survives. It would have been something to see a local skirting along the edge of the creek back then. But like so many other aspects of railroading, it's nothing but a memory. Brad
I have an April, 1951 Frisco system map that shows the Cherry Valley line, aka the Henpeck spur. See the attached picture which also shows the entire Salem Branch coming down from Cuba, long before the "Lead line" went in. Note the Eastern Division main line also shows Anaconda, MO between St Clair and Stanton. This was the stop that had its tiny depot relocated to Kirkwood where the line crosses Kirkwood Road (aka Lindbergh Blvd) on its way in to Lindenwood Yard and St. Louis Union Station. Ken
Ken neat map. I want to say there was a siding at Cooks. Anyway I was trying to think where we cleared for trains, Lead cars and the Buick local, I think most times they were early AM. Bill Jackson
Funny thing, the old Roadmaster (Dick Dobbs) if you ask him where he was headed, he always said "Bourbon" Bill Jackson
That Bourbon water tower, on the right side of I-44 as you head down to Rolla, is among the most famous in the USA! Ken
Am I correct - the junction for the Lead Line was between Keysville and Wesco, or was it between Wesco and Hitch? Ken
Ken, the junction for the Lead Line is north of Keysville, about two miles before the Hwy AA crossing. "Hitch" is an enigma to me. Best I can determine is that it is about one mile south of Wesco near Lost Mountain, site of the first fatality accident. Engineer Roney attempted to cross a flood damaged trestle and the bridge collapsed, taking him and his fireman down with the engine (August 1876). Bill, there were sidings at Wesco and Cook Station, probably one at Keysville and Bangert as well. The siding as Wesco was gone by the time I was old enough to remember, but the switch was still there and I can remember seeing turtles stuck between the points and the rails. Funny how you remember weird things like that. Since you were working the branch in 1976, you may remember the derailment of a work train about a quarter mile south of Wesco that occurred in April of that year. My Grandpa had quit the railroad about 14 years before that, but the crew walked to his house to call for help. The derailment caused a lot of damage to the roadbed and they had to fill in a spot with heavy limestone ballast, which is still visible and contrasts with the cinder ballast that dominated the rest of the line. Pat Moreland, Union, MO
