Maps of the KCC&S and KCO&S

Discussion in 'Clinton Subdivision' started by TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020), Apr 23, 2010.

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

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

    Are there any maps of the "Leaky Roof" (KCC&S) and the "High Line" (KCO&S) that show both lines and how/where they would cross? And also, what years would the lines still be separate and intact?

    Thanks, Tom
     
  2. Check out Mike Good's website on The Railroads of Henry County:

    http://tacnet.missouri.org/history/railroads/index.html

    Among other maps and information, he has a scan of the KCC&S's entry from the 1916 Official Guide to the Railways, which includes a system map and passenger train schedules. This is just before the first of the consolidations between the parallel lines.

    http://tacnet.missouri.org/history/railroads/KCCS_1916.jpg

    From north to south:

    At Belton, the KCC&S approached from the west (Olathe) and the KCO&S from the north (Kansas City). The two railroads ran parallel for a short distance, with connection tracks, and crossed east of town.

    At Harrisonville they crossed again, putting the KCC&S on the south side again. See other threads about Harrisonville.

    At Clinton they did not directly connect. The KCO&S/SLSF yard was on the north side of the town, and the KCC&S's small yard was on a short branch south of town, connected to the KCC&S main line by a wye. MK&T trackage rights were used for movements between the two lines.

    At Lowry City Jct. the two lines crossed at grade. Their depots were a few blocks apart in Lowry City, with the KCO&S close to the center of town and the KCC&S on the eastern fringes, near the alignment of present-day highway 13. From just south of Lowry City to the Osage River, the lines ran closely parallel to each other down the east bank of Gallinipper Creek, diverging briefly at Osceola with the KCC&S looping to the east while the KCO&S/SLSF skirted downtown Osceola and ran southward under the bluffs south of town. Each had its own bridge over the Osage. This parallel trackage from Lowry City Jct. through Osceola seems to have been operationally consolidated around WWI, with KCC&S trains being routed over the KCO&S/SLSF. I have no information about the date of legal abandonment or physical scrapping of the KCC&S track.

    At Harlan Jct. the two lines came back together. The original KCO&S/SLSF line crossed over the KCC&S, crossed an impressive trestle over a creek, and bypassed the town of Vista to the east before continuing south. The KCC&S passed through the town of Vista. Sometime between 1904 and 1910 two connections were built, north and south of Vista, and KCO&S/SLSF trains were routed through Vista on the KCC&S. The junction south of town was called Tracy Jct. The Harlan Jct - Vista - Tracy Jct. joint trackage has been the subject of at least one discussion thread on www.frisco.org, and a useful map supplied by www.frisco.org member Karl Brand can be found at http://tacnet.missouri.org/history/railroads/ValuationMap.html.

    South of Tracy Jct. the lines did not intersect. At Walnut Grove they passed through town a few blocks apart, with separate depots.

    This describes the situation during the years that the KCC&S operated quasi-independently. After the line was formally taken over by the Frisco in 1924, more consolidation took place. Sometime around 1926, a connection was built from Brownington on the KCO&S/SLSF to Dejun, just south of Deepwater on the KCC&S, permitting KCO&S/SLSF trains to reach the town and the nearby mines and clay pipe factory. (See valuation map referenced above.) The KCC&S between Clinton and Deepwater was shortly abandoned, leaving Deepwater at the end of a short branchline from the new mainline alignment. The KCO&S/SLSF track between Brownington and Lowry City jct. was left in place for a few years to service a coal mine, then scrapped in 1934. The Olathe-Belton section of the KCC&S was severed in 1928, with KCC&S trains being routed onto the KCO&S/SLSF at Belton and, in the line's final years of operations, tying up at Grandview.

    The remainder of the KCC&S, except for the sections incorporated into the mainline alignment of the KCO&S/SLSF Clinton sub (Deepwater-Lowry City Jct and Harlan Jct-Vista-Tracy Jct) and a few short stubs used as connection tracks (at Olathe) or industrial spurs (at Belton, Harrisonville, Clinton, and between Ash Grove and Phenix), was abandoned in 1934. the SLSF Clinton sub was itself abandoned in the 1970s, and the connection between the former Frisco and ATSF mainlines at Olathe is the only KCC&S route that remains in service.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 25, 2010
  3. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    Great--The Official Guide page is exactly what I was looking for.

    Thanks, Tom
     
  4. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Here are a few images that I have lying about the ol' laptop C-Drive.

    The first two images are 1938-1939 era USGS 7.5 minute topo sheets. Even at this date, the track dump is easily seen on the maps, and I have annotated the maps digitally. These maps include Osceola, Harlan Junction, Vista, Tracy Junction. The abandoned KCOS is shown in Blue, and the abandoned KCCS is shown in Red

    As Brad describes, this section of the High LIne-Leaky Roof was the first to see "joint" operation. The KCOS bridge over Brush Creek either burned or was condemned. The bridge was 600-700 feet long and 40-50 feet high. Rather than effect repairs, the Frisco elected to abandon this portion of the High LIne, and route trains over the KCCS via a connection at Harlan Junction, Vista, and thern through a new connection at Tracy Junction. I have heard dates of 1904 or 1906 for this change. A 1904 KCCS ETT does not describe any type of joint operation, and a 1909 KCCS ETT describes the joint operation in detail.

    South of Harlan the KCOS cross over the KCCS over a bridge. Roger sent me a plat that indicated a KCOS station to the north (rr) of this bridge. During the eartly 70's my brother and I conducted a "field" survey in an attempt to determine the type of bothe bridges. We could found no evidence of these structures. I have pictures stashed away that need to be retrieved.

    I also have conducted some research with regard to the names Tracy and Harlan. I hoped that a gazeteer might shed light on the etymology and date of these locations.

    Here's the one entry:
    Feature ID: 757146
    Name: Harlan Junction
    Class: Locale
    History: Harlan Junction was named for the maiden name of E.W. Tracy.

    Also attached is a 1895 Plat of Belton. The Turn Table is not shown on this plat, it appears on later tax valuation maps. The turntable was located between the KCCS and the KCOS near the intersection of West Ave. and North Ave. Currently, the Smokey Hill Museum operates the track in Belton. The KCCS track is extant between Hackberry and Chestnut.

    The last image shows Granddaughter Caroline Brand, born 4/22; wt 6 lbs 12 oz, length 19-3/4". Am in STL making introductions.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Karl - Congratulations on your new granddaughter! I saw your postings about Caroline on Facebook as well last night. (Same as my wife's name)

    Attached is a pic of our second granddaughter, Lauren, born in Overland Park, KS on April 12, 2010.

    Ain't it great to be a grandpa!

    Ken
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    I am a first timer; this little one will be spoiled. Contrats back at you.
     
  7. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Lauren's big sister Addison (2+ yrs old) is well on the road to being spoiled. Great fun!

    K
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 23, 2010

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