Line Relocation North Of Lebanon - Doubled Tracked, Then Reduced With CTC Installation

While looking for something else on Google Maps, I noticed what appears to be an abandoned grade paralleling the BNSF (ex-Frisco) for about five miles north of Lebanon. My guess is that this represents the original route of the Frisco, and the line was later relocated to the current route. I'm curious what others might know about the date and history of any such relocation.

The southern end of the "mystery grade" is at the north end of Lebanon, where the current route crosses E. Commerial/Millcreek Road and curves to the right (east):

https://goo.gl/maps/m6tXG

If you look closely at the Google satellite view, you can see a grade that continues straight to the north-northeast where the current route curves to east-northeast. It runs along the west bank of Dry Auglaize Creek for a little over three miles, then makes a sweeping S-curve to the east-southeast and back to the northeast, crossing the creek and rejoining the current line just northwest of the I-44 Speedway, as visible here:

https://goo.gl/maps/Ls5EA

It looks like the current route is a bit shorter, and may not drop into the creek bottom as far as the abandoned one did, which probably means it doesn't have as much dip and rise. But that's just speculation on my part. Does anyone have any solid information about the date of this apparent relocation, or some old timetables or milepost designations that would show a resulting change in mileage?

BAS

 

Bradley,

I don't recall the specifics off the top of my head, I believe Doug Hughes has written a little about it in some of the old newsletters. Best I remember it was done sometime after the Dixon and Hancock Hill relocates and for a while the old alignment was left in place and traffic was separated by direction. I'll see if I can dig up some specifics.

Brad Slone

 

What was the original alignment at Dixon? I'm on google earth looking now and some of it seems obvious but then I get lost.

 

I knew that I had a document that would show a map of the area between Lebanon and Carrol Jct. Attached is a geologic map from Report of Investigation No. 18, The Geology of The Lebanon Quadrangle, 1955. The 15 minute topo base was published during 1952. The explanation for the cross hatching on the map:

The broadly spaced diagonal lines denote the Jefferson City Dolomite;
Areas without a pattern are underlain by the Roubidoux Formation;
Areas with the closely spaced diagonals are underlain by the Gasconade Formation.


The links are to ETT 35D May 1, 1947 which show the tonnage ratings for the double track segment and the locations of the track segments.

http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=4904&d=1193496259

http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=4914&d=1193496645

 

I found a USGS with it on it. It use to really snake through the hills!

 

Thanks to all who responded!

BAS