Springfield Terminal Stations and Mileposts

[rogerrt477]

Nichols to So.Springfield, MO.-

M.P.- Station------ Blt.- P.C.-
197.6 Nichols------ 1881 KCS&M1
201.3 So.Springfield 1881 "

Predecessor Company-
1) Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis RR (1)

Notes-
1) Connects with Springfield Sub & Springfield Terminal at Nichols.
2) Connects with Chadwick branch & Springfield Connecting RR at South Springfield.
3) Known as the "passenger main".

[rogerrt477]

South Springfield to W.S.Junction, MO.-

M.P.- Station------- Blt. Aban. P.C.-
201.3 So.Springfield 1882 ----- KCS&M1
203.9 Provision----- 1882 ----- "
205.1 Hays--------- 1882 1979 "
205.6 W.S.Jct.----- 1882 1979 KCS&M1

Predecessor Company-
1) Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis RR (1)

Notes-
1) Connects with Chadwick branch & Springfield Connecting RY at South Springfield.
2) Connects with Willow Springs Sub at W.S. Junction.
3) W.S. Junction is short for "Willow Springs" Junction.
4) Known as the "passenger main".

[rogerrt477]

North Springfield to South Springfield, MO.-

M.P.- Station---- Blt.- P.C.-
?.? No.Springfield 1887 SCRR
?.? So.Springfield 1887 "

Predecessor Company-
1) Springfield Connecting RR

[roger]

Teed to W.S. Junction-

M.P.- Station----- Blt.- P.C.
203.3 Teed------- 1955 SLSF
203.3 Eastern Jct. 1955 "
206.2 W.S. Jct.--- 1955 "

Predecessor Company-
1) SLSF-St.Louis-San Francisco RY

Notes-
1) Connects with Lebanon Sub, Eastern Divison at Teed.
2) Connects with Willow Springs Sub, Northern Division and old passenger main to Nichols at W.S. Junction.
3) W.S. Junction known as Willow Springs Junction.

[roger]

Teed to Nichols, MO.-

M.P.- Station------- Blt.- P.C.-
236.7 Teed--------- 1870 SPRR
236.7 Eastern Jct.-- 1870 "
239.3 No.Springfield- 1870 "
243.0 Nichols------- 1870 "

Predecessor Company-
1) SPRR-South Pacific RR

Notes-
1) 1st train 5/3/1870.

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

does ano have pictures of trains on the passenger main. and of the local trains and downtown switching operations. as well as when the passenger main was abandoned on eahc end of the line, as wlel when the last traisn went thru on the line.

[pbender]

does ano have pictures of trains on the passenger main. and of the local trains and downtown switching operations. as well as when the passenger main was abandoned on eahc end of the line, as wlel when the last traisn went thru on the line.

I've caught a few trains running through the old passenger main on my trips back to Springfield. The segment that is left still contains active industries. I don't have any Frisco era photos of my own however.

I'm not actually sure when the connection at WS junction, the junction on the east side of town, was taken out of service. System TimeTable #1 (effective October 17,1971) includes a 20mph speed restirction on the old passenger belt from WS junction to Nichols. Springfield Terminal Division Time Table #4 (Effective April 22, 1979) includes a restriction of 10mph on the old passenger belt, but, it doesn't mention WS junction at all.

On the west side of town, at Nichols junction, the MoPac, and later UP, used the Nichols connection to the old passenger main to reach their own tracks via trackage rights, from Aroura. When the UP sold their remaining trackage to the Missouri and Northern Arkansas (about 1995) the trackage rights were changed to haulage rights. I'm not positive when the connection was removed, but I know it was after 1995.

Paul

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

i take it this line was never a thru line except, for passenger trains. I notice form the downtown yard,west of this, is this ever used, i know the line ends now at hillcrest st. I was supprised to notice one single covered hopper car out there last week.

[pbender]

i take it this line was never a thru line except, for passenger trains.


At one time, this was the mainline of the Kansas City,Springfield and Memphis Railroad, a Frisco predicessor.

Prior to the completelion of the East belt in the 1950s, the line now known as the middle belt was used as a connection from the North Yard to the passenger main, allowing freights to head to Memphis. The middle belt is used to reach Tindle Mills and a few other industries downtown, as well as being the route that unit coal trains take to get out to the CU James River Power Plant at Kissick.

The other trackage connecting the mainline to the old passenger belt is known as the west belt. It forms a connection from just west of the broadway street crossovers to the South Yard (the old passenger station site).

Incidentally, If you look at the 2nd post in this thread, it tells us the section of the line from WS Junction to MP205.6 was abandoned in 1979.



I notice form the downtown yard,west of this, is this ever used, i know the line ends now at hillcrest st. I was supprised to notice one single covered hopper car out there last week.

West of downtown, the trackage goes out past Paul Mueller. I know there are at least occasional loads sent out/received there. There's also a scrap yard and Libscom Feeds that recieve loads near the point where the west belt meets the passenger belt.

Incidentally, you may want to get yourself a copy of the December,2003 Issue of Trains Magazine, which had an article on Springfield in the 1950s, which includes a map from the time.

Also, take a look at the information on this site: http://www.rrstudy.com. The site talks about current plans to reconfigure the trackage in downtown, along with a few other changes to eliminate grade crossings (mostly from the east belt).

Paul

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

there was alink on here some where for that decembeer 2003 issue and the link didnt work.. I live near these tracks,and walk past that scrap yard on occasion, notcied some of, the switches, and sidings etc. have been pulled behind muellers..

Walking thru, the d town yard the other night i noticed a old foundated of a water pie for steam engines>?? and a old signal tower foundation? anyone know.

Apprently muellers is not provdied rail service anymore either.

And anyone know much on the m & ma line, i know its the old mp. and that it really goes no where except down almost to battlefield rd. to serve industries.

Have noticed the one switcher pushing cars most days downtown about noon. But is there a yard or anything, or does there train, ever run on the bnsf tracks, or connect with the rest of the m & na 's tracks.


Also at main st. you can still see the passenger station,, the foundations for the platforms are there, the parking lot etc. the station was on the left correct??? well on the right hand side there a brick building was that a frisco building as well? Its the one tan buinding no windows, before the grant st. bridge.

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

what are you talking about broad street crossovers, i know the westbelt connection, runs into the main, next to the cattle grounds, and afm feed mill just north of division st.

[pbender]

what are you talking about broad street crossovers, i know the westbelt connection, runs into the main, next to the cattle grounds, and afm feed mill just north of division st.

Sorry, that should have said "Broadway" street. I've corrected it in the original post.

You are correct, the west belt runs from the end of the South Yard (the old passenger station) north to the stockyards. The stockyards are just west of the intersection of Commercial and Broadway streets, approximatly parallel to the mainline.

If you stop on Broadway and look west down the mainline, there is a set of crossovers to get between the westbound mailnine and the southern most arrival/departure tracks (Long 1 to 4 South).

Paul

[pbender]

Walking thru, the d town yard the other night i noticed a old foundated of a water pie for steam engines>?? and a old signal tower foundation? anyone know.


There was (at one point in time) a steam locomotive shop on this site, it was on the south side of the old passenger main.

Durring the diesel era, there was a diesel servicing track along the north side of the passenger station. This included a water pipe for filling the steam generator's water supply tank. The remnants of the servicing track are visible from Wall St. west of the Grant Ave. Viaduct.

I can't tell you anything about any other foundations in the area, as I do not condone trespassing on railroad property.



Apprently muellers is not provdied rail service anymore either.


Perhaps they aren't, but it may be that service is rare.

BNSF wouldn't be interested in keeping the line if there were no active industries on it.



And anyone know much on the m & ma line, i know its the old mp. and that it really goes no where except down almost to battlefield rd. to serve industries.


Yes, this is correct.

It is the remnants of a branchline that once connected with the MP White River Route at Crane,MO. By 1973, the MP reached Springfield via trackage rights from Aroura, and all trackage between Battlefield,MO and Crane,MO was abandoned. The trackage from Battlefield,MO to Battlefield Road in Springfield was abandoned sometime durring the 1980s, after the MP/UP merger. The M&NA took over the line about 1995.



Have noticed the one switcher pushing cars most days downtown about noon. But is there a yard


There are a few tracks downtown that belong to the M&NA. I believe the M&NA has rights to use the South Yard, but I've never seen the interchange operation myself.



or anything, or does there train, ever run on the bnsf tracks, or connect with the rest of the m & na 's tracks.


No. The M&NA converted the trackage rights into Haulage rights shortly after aquiring the line. This is the reason BNSF took out the connection between the mainline and the passenger belt at Nichols.

You will see the M&NA on the BNSF trackage on occasion. When the switcher assignments change, or when the switcher needs servicing. I know I've taken photographs of two different switchers parked behind Dayco in the last 3 years (I get home to Springfield about 2 times a year).



Also at main st. you can still see the passenger station,, the foundations for the platforms are there, the parking lot etc. the station was on the left correct??? well on the right hand side there a brick building was that a frisco building as well? Its the one tan buinding no windows, before the grant st. bridge.

The station was on the south side of the tracks. There are a couple of steel buildings there now. As you noted, the platforms foundations are still in place.

The brick building on the north side of the tracks is the old Frisco Commissary. It was built durring the 1950s.

At one time, the Frisco had a freight house that spanned the Jordan Creek, which is just south of where the passenger station stood.

Paul

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

I dont know if the frienght house is stil there but there is a small structure over the jordan creek is this it?

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

Yea as far as the intercnange operations, there is currently the mna has one switcher which is almsot daily right behind th eold mp depot, around non every week day. as well the bnsf almost always have there switching crew in the d.town yard in mid afternnon btween 3-and 6 pm usually always the same engine 4257 an d old c-30 7 still in blue bonnet. this operation usually heads towards points east, kraft and oter industries around 10 am daily.

as far as the coal drags to the power plant these can usually be caught headed south around. between 10pm and 1 am ,and usually the power returning light. around 4 am,

[pbender]

I dont know if the frienght house is stil there but there is a small structure over the jordan creek is this it?

No, the freight house is gone.

Ther'es a photo of what it looked like on The Springfield Greene County Library's website here:
http://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/depots/images/photos/p01304.jpg

For reference, this is from the page on The Frisco's Springfield Depot's:
http://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/depots/springfield.cfm

The Frisco's Freight House was torn down sometime in the 1980s.

Paul

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

ok ive noticed from the the grant st, viaduck a small buinding over the creek though that may be it, down by the muellers, from the crossing before the overpasss and to the west . did this used to be double track?

[pbender]

ok ive noticed from the the grant st, viaduck a small buinding over the creek though that may be it, down by the muellers, from the crossing before the overpasss and to the west . did this used to be double track?

At one point in time there was double track leading in to the station from the east (street trackage on Mill Street), but i don't believe there was ever any double track west of the station.

Paul

[Karl]

There was a second track going east from the depot to the wye. I've looked through several ETT's, and I don't believe that it was ever desginated as a second main. Further poking around may change that notion.

Attached is an old B&W Instamatic shot looking down Mill Street. Main Street is immediately behind me. The mainline is the track on the right side of the image, which was taken during July 1969.

Also included are the Nichols Jct to MK Jct track charts that show the general alignment of the track. These are circa 1975, and by this time changes have been made at MK Jct. The MP crossing has been removed, and the MK JCT passing track has also been removed. The CTC MK Jct to WS Jct has been de-actived.

Portions from ETT 38B, Sept. 28, 1952 are also shown.

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

searching around on rrpicturearchieves.net there are a couple pics, of passenger trains, street running on these tracks, i take it, thse are the same tracks, which run behind willowbrook, and dead end currently at boonville.?

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

alright the retired passing track is where it looks another track crossed national right there where the frisco caboose is..

[pbender]

searching around on rrpicturearchieves.net there are a couple pics, of passenger trains, street running on these tracks, i take it, thse are the same tracks, which run behind willowbrook, and dead end currently at boonville.?

No, the Mill street tracks continue on past the The Jordan valley Park. It joins the what is left of the old Phelps street trackage between Hammonds Field and Harry Cooper Supply.

The Phellps street trackage is now segmented, one side goes from MK junction to the MFA grain elevator. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this segment is taken out past the old team track, since MFA doesn't use the elevator any more. (I haven't been in the area for a while, and I don't have the pictures I took last summer in front of me).

The other end of the Phelps street trackage services Lipscomb Feeds.

Paul

[pbender]

alright the retired passing track is where it looks another track crossed national right there where the frisco caboose is..

Right where the Frisco caboose is on National, there were some industrial tracks.

Minimally, the trackage served the oil dealer (which is where the caboose is on National) and the grain elevator next to it (all tha tis left of the grain elevator is the elevator tower).

The industrial track is shown on the diagrams Karl posted above the red line indicating where the passing track was removed.

Paul

[pbender]

Karl,


Also included are the Nichols Jct to MK Jct track charts that show the general alignment of the track. These are circa 1975, and by this time changes have been made at MK Jct. The MP crossing has been removed, and the MK JCT passing track has also been removed. The CTC MK Jct to WS Jct has been de-actived.


You wouldn't happen to have the track chart showing the rest of the line from (MP205 to WS Jct) would you?

I've been looking for that one, along with one for the Ozark Branch, but all I've been able to find is some BNSF track charts from the late 1990s.

Paul

[Karl]

I don't have the charts for the Ozark Br, but do have them from C205 to WS Jct. I have also included the "New" East Belt.

[pbender]

I don't have the charts for the Ozark Br, but do have them from C205 to WS Jct. I have also included the "New" East Belt.

Thanks Karl, That helps.

Paul

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

would be intersting to see those bnsf thrack charts.

[xspfdhardcorekid417x]

oh ok i know where youre talking about the street trackage, soes end at the grain, elevator which is being renovated i believe, on the west end, ends currently, at the lipscomb feeds, though you can see some, of the track is still remaining past this spot.

[mk_junction]

Ok. I live in Springfield mo. I go past mk junction everyday. Now the bad news. The caboose at national is gone. I saw them take it apart one day. I was shocked and hurt. The Mo pacific tracks past mk junction going east are gone. Paved over. The grain elevator is still there. Reyco is gone. Just a empty brick building. The double main going east from mk junction is now one track. I really had some great times at mk. Lots of action back in the late 60s. Had a good train day there once. Saw 2 long freights and then Mo Pacific came and did some switching. A day in heaven. I hope this helps. Fred. :)

[Karl]

I have noticed one other change at MK Jct. During my trip to Springfield this past July, I noticed that the turnout where the old Ozark Branch diverged from the old Willow Springs Sub. has been "flipped". Coal trains going to and coming from the James River Power Plant no longer have to stop to throw the switch. The old Willow Springs Sub is now the diverging route at this location.

[Ron Williams]

I'm looking for pictures of the Reyco industry near MK Jct. in Springfield.
Ron Williams
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