Ste. Genevieve, MO

[chris]

See INTERCHANGES discussion for the precursors to this message. As my new info doesn't exactly pertain to Interchanges, it seemed like a good time to start a new topic...

Ste. Gen, 1926: my notes indicated that there was a "Union Depot" adjacent to N. Front St. just north of Merchant. There was a single track to the west between the passenger depot and Front St.; to the east was a double-track for M&I and SLSF. Farther to the east was a freight depot (no notes on whether it's either Frisco, M&I or both) with an additional 2 tracks to its east.

The easternmost tracks travelled south a few blocks. In between the two sets of double-tracks and due east of Merchant St. was Pierce Petroleum Co. (1 oil warehouse, 2 gasoline tanks and 2 oil tanks), with the Barnsdall Refineries, Inco. just to the south of Pierce.

Immediately east of this location on the E side of the last tracks was Mo. General Utilities Water Works and Power Plant, with a RR tool house immediately south and Standard Oil farther to the south. These two tracks continued further south to the Western Lime Works.

For prototype modellers, this might give some good prototype industry names for trackside businesses. If I can ever get around to sketching these diagrams, I'll do my best to post them.

[dwain]

Glad to hear your information on Ste. Gen. My great uncle worked the MP all his life. One tiome he told me about one of his borther-in-laws that worked the Frisco out of Ste. Gen. I guess the Frisco had a bigger presence there back then. On another note the city of Cape closed the flood wall gates the week of June 4th. This blocked the Frisco tracks. Has the line been opened yet?

[chris]

Dwain:
The Mississippi at Cape Girardeau just recently dropped below flood stage (32 ft.) but is set to crest again Thursday at 33 feet; I believe that they usually shut the north railroad gate (at the south end of Freeze siding) in the neighborhood of 35 feet.

The south railroad flood gate (immediately south of the current depot) only closes when the river reaches much higher levels (well over 40', I believe) and has only been closed 2 or 3 times that I can remember in my lifetime.

Ship IT on the Frisco!

[patrick]

Here is a picture of the station at Ste Gen that was/is standing.

http://www.geocities.com/mp_tp/st-gensta.jpg

[dwain]

Thanks Chris. I have been watching the River Division at Lindenwood and havent seen much traffic except for coal trains. I guess they could run to Rush Island. Dwain

[patrick]

There has been freight trains heading south at Byars siding all of this week and I seem to recall several last week also.

[jerry]

Chris, Dwain
Anyone interested in the River Division and Old Man River its self might want to bookmark the enclosed page.
http://lms61.mvs.usace.army.mil/dresriv.html

[dwain]

Stopped in Ste. Gen Sunday afternoon to see what remained of the SL-SF an MOPAC train stations. I had not been there since the mid 70's and remember the two station being in town. I turned on market street and crossed the tracks.
It was here or the next cross street north that was the location of the two stations. To my surprise I found the next street north blocked by the levee constructed in the flood of '93. I went to the visitors center to see if anyone there new about the two station but it was closed for the day. I guess that I will try to get back in the fall and walk the area. I think the foundation of the Frisco station would still be there, but the MP stations foundation is probably covered by the levee.

[dave]

Here's a shot of the Missouri Pacific & the Frisco depots in Ste Genevieve, MO. I believe the crossover switch was used by the MoPac (M&I) to take their train south on the Frisco to Cape Girardeau to cross the Mississippi River after the transfer boat, the "Ste Genevieve", was removed from service in the early 60's.