Joplin, MO - Bridge H.A. 333.6 - GP7 SLSF 541 - Carterville Track Over Kansas City Southern (KCS)

Discussion in 'Carthage Subdivision' started by frisco4301, Mar 31, 2010.

  1. frisco4301

    frisco4301 Member

    This is a shot of SLSF 541 on bridge H.A. 333.6 taken September 2, 1955 in Joplin, MO. This is the orginal Memphis line from Joplin to Webb City and Carterville. This bridge spanned the SLSF "Big Horn" from the Frisco depot to J & G Junction as well as the KCS main. Immediately to the left and out of view is the Missouri Pacific span over same. Photographer unknown. Jeff Cooney, Lindsay, TX
     

    Attached Files:

  2. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    Wow, raggedy looking track. No tie plates or anything.
     
  3. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    ....or anything! I am having difficulty seeing spikes.


     
  4. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    Looks like it's just spiked here and there??

    Tom
     
  5. mark

    mark Staff Member Staff Member

    Jeff,

    Thank you for posting the photo and starting this thread. Joplin is an interesting area.

    The "Carterville Track" in Timetables lasted into the 1970s. I understood it was an industry spur. I hope you or someone can help explain the details of this line further.

    From what I can find on maps, east of J&G Junction the Carterville Track line segment was south and east of the Joplin Branch. West of J&G Junction the Carterville line was north of the Galena Branch, and lay in two disconnected segments, one west from Joplin and one east from Galina.

    Timetables from the 1950s indicate three branches - Joplin (Oronogo to Joplin via Webb City), Galena (Joplin to Baxter Springs via Galena and Riverton) and Tuckahoe (Joplin to Carl Junction via West Joplin). How did the Carterville line fit into this network?

    What was its eastern connection? Did it connect to the Joplin Branch from Oronago, Webb City, KCS Crossing (further to the north), Joplin or did it connect directly to the Carthage Subdivision further east? When did it stop being a through line?

    Similar questions to the west. In Timetable 1 the Carterville Track crossed at grade in Galena with the MKT (their Joplin Branch). What was the western end connection? When did it stop being a through line? Does anyone have good maps of the line?

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 31, 2010
  6. mark

    mark Staff Member Staff Member

    Jeff,

    Another thought concerning the photo.

    The more that I look at it the more it looks to me like the railroad is using an old modeler's trick of placing trees to hide the opening in the backdrop where the tracks enter staging.

    Sure hope that is not new paint that just got scratched up by all the trees so close to the right of way.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 31, 2010
  7. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Joplin, MO - Trackage Location Map - 1/29/1964

    Joplin Detail.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 12, 2023
  8. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Thanks for the map, Karl. This provides some very interesting info. Quite a bit of trackage back in the day.

    I worked into Joplin on the Missouri Pacific in the late 1970's and early 1980's. I always thought that it looked like the Frisco had a bridge right south of ours, but I never knew for sure until now. At that time, what was left of the line immediately to the west of this bridge was used by a scrap dealer. I remember seeing at least one old passenger car in this facility, I think it was a Milwaukee Road car.

    I agree with Mark that this is an interesting area. More info is needed. Does anyone out there have anything? Please post if you do.

    Thanks.

    Kevin Love
     
  9. nvrr49

    nvrr49 Member

    What was the Brewery track? A little three track yard in the upper right of the map. I have never known of a brewery in Joplin.

    Kent in KC, and 20 years in Joplin
     
  10. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    In a happier times, many small cities could boast having a brewery with in their limits. Joplin was no different, and it could claim the Middle West Brewing Company. The three-track "yard" served the brewery, which was built at 8th and Grand circa 1889. The brewery had a 60 ton refrigeration machine for preservation and perhaps for producing lager. The ratification of the the 18th Amendment and passage of the Volstead Act during 1919, may have put an end to the brewery, although many breweries survived prohibition by producing malt and near beer (<0.5%). Some local Joplin folks may be able to shed further light on the brewery. Prosit!

    The names of many railroad locations survive long after the reason for that name vanished, e.g. KCCS Jct in Clinton, the Passenger Main in Springfield, etc. In this case, the name "Brewery Track(s)" remain.



     

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