Springfield, MO - Three (3) Depot Sites - N Benton Ave, E Phelps St (2 SLSF), N Main Ave (KCFS&M)

I have believed, until now, that the Frisco and its antecedent roads served the city of Springfield with two depot sites.

The Frisco had its North Springfield depot on North Benton Avenue, while the Memphis Road had its depot at intersection of North Main Avenue and West Mill Street.

In a very brief reiteration of history, North Springfield and Springfield merged as did the Frisco and the Memphis Road.

Ultimately, passenger operations were moved to the North Main Avenue at West Mill Street location, and the North Springfield depot was razed.

While perusing a set of 1896 Sanborn maps, I noticed a second Frisco depot at East Phelps Street and North Jefferson Avenue.

Anyone know anything further?

 

I knew the North Springfield depot was somewhere between the CTC building the Frisco Museum once occupied and the Jefferson Avenue footbridge over the north yard. Those Sanborn maps certainly pinpoint the location.

As to the other depot, I notice on the closeup drawings, the site is marked as both a freight house and a passenger depot.

Could it be that it was built by one of the other Frisco predecessors that made it to Springfield?

I know, which one?

Part of the site of the second Frisco depot sat on currently contains the remnants of a team track.

One of these days I am going to build a model of it, I have enough pictures now.

Paul

 

So when was the last passenger train on the Frisco run out of Springfield, MO?

 

Morgan,

In response to your question concerning the last passenger train it was 1967.

Please see the following link.

http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/last-passenger-on-the-road.1360/

 

Was just looking at the map on the top left, the one with the passenger depots on it.

What is the CH&S RR that veers east off of the East Belt Line?

Never heard of this railroad, and where did it go?

 

Morgan,

The Chicago, Hannibal, & Springfield (CH&S) Railroad, was surveyed from Chicago, IL to Hannibal, MO and then Southwest to Springfield, MO.

An original projection had the route passing through the towns of Pleasant Hope and Fair Play and then to Springfield.

In 1887, the proposed route through these towns was abandoned in favor of one going through Buffalo, MO.

Evidently, the promoters of this route hoped to gain the interest of the Chicago and Alton (C&A), the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q), the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (CRIP) or the Missouri Pacific (MP).

It was never built.

 

Karl,

I am as bewildered as you.

The only reference in the Sanborn maps I found was that the mystery depot was frame and the North Benton Avenue depot was brick. I looked from 1886 to 1910, it popped up as a St.L.&S.F. depot and remained part of their yards on East Phelps Street through 1933.

Attached are the 1886, 1891, 1896, 1902, 1910, and 1933 Sanborn Maps of the area.

I hope someone can find a photograph or more information.

Take care,

RRG65

 

It all makes sense to me now.

Eight years ago while perusing a Springfield Sanborn map, I noticed that the map showed a second St Louis and San Francisco depot with freight house at East Phelps Street and North Jefferson Avenue. The Frisco served Springfield (north) by means of its depot, which was located at North Benton Avenue and East Commercial Street.

The purpose of the second depot was a mystery.

http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=4289&d=1164942152

Recently, I have been conducting a bit of research about the demise of the Chadwick Branch, and I discovered John Dill's post of SL&SF Employee Time Table (ETT) No 7, Effective 4/24/1898.

https://www.frisco.org/shipit/index...rr-time-table-no-7-sunday-april-24-1898.5980/

That ETT held the answer. "Phelps", MP 240.8, was the Frisco's "suburban" depot on the south side. The Chadwick Branch's daily mixed called on Phelps on its way in and out of town, and the Bolivar Branch mixed originated and terminated at Phelps.

The merger with the Memphis Road put an end to passenger operations from both of the "old" Frisco depots.

The small team track "yard" under the Benton Street overpass is all that remains of the trackage that once served the Phelps Avenue passenger depot and freight house

 

In the early 1960s there was a dilapidated wooden "depot" style building across from the main Frisco passenger depot. It was about a "half-block" west of the tan brick dining car and laundry building.

I never knew what origin of that "depot" actually was. I made a few inquiries and the only answer I came up with was one fellow seemed to think in was a depot for the "Highline" or one of the predecessor roads.

Anyone else know anything about that building?

I am pretty sure I have a photograph of that building somewhere in my collection, but no luck as yet.

Thanks,

Tom

 

Tom,

Could it be possible that this is the "depot"?

View attachment Depot 1 by Bob Dye.jpg