Vilean, MO depot The depot still stands next to Dent-Phelps railroad right of way (ROW) in 2023. The Dent-Phelps Railroad company was formed in 1875, with the intentions of driving a rail line into the iron-rich hills on the border of Dent and Phelps counties. Initially proposed as an extension to the Benton Creek spur, the switch was later moved down to Avery Station (Bangert). The line was built to Smith Iron Mines, and then extended to the community of Winkler. The Dent-Phelps Railroad was often referred to as the Winkler Branch. For several years, iron ore was transported out of the various mines along the railroad. In the late 1890s, the railroad was closed and tracks were removed. In the 1910s, the railroad was rebuilt by Frisco, and expanded past Winkler to the town of Vilean, MO, and then terminating at De Camp Iron Bank. The town of Vilean sprouted up around the railroad, and a freight depot was built by Frisco. The depot still stands today next to Missouri Highway 68 at the intersection of Phelps County Highway NN. Edit 3/31/2024: The street address is 15015 South Highway 68, St. James, MO 65559-6165 MKD
Station is not listed on the Eastern Division Employee Time Tables (ETT) currently in this forum. Per the map listed in the "Winkler Branch, Dent-Phelps Railroad" post, located between the stations of Winkler, MP 123.1 and Decamp, MP 129.9. See the Eastern Division, Time Table No. 28, Effective Sunday, May 24, 1914, Winkler Branch, off the Salem Branch connection at Bangert, MP 117.7. Please see the following link. https://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/winkler-branch-dent-phelps-railroad.13898/ Only stations listed between these points (Winkler and Decamp) are Austria, MP 126.6 and Howerton, MP 129.3. Physical location address of the image capture photograph above is 15015 East Missouri Highway 68. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
