Springfield, MO - Roundhouse, Turntable and Servicing Facilities - West Yards - Proposal

Rara Avis in Terris Nigroque Simillima Cygno - "A rare bird in the lands, and very like a black swan."

When World War Two ended during the first part of September 1945, the Frisco had forty diesels locomotives on the property. Thirty-two of the units were Baldwin switch engines, i.e., thirty VO-1000s and two VO-660s. The remaining 8 units were the diminutive GE 44 tonners. Units 6, 8, and 200-208 were placed on the old Memphis Road’s books. As an aside, the last steam locomotive placed on the Memphis Road’s books was the 4515.

During 1945 the Frisco built a new ten-stall roundhouse at Ft Smith, and it extended the West Tulsa roundhouse by adding ten new stalls. The Frisco also built 3 new water tanks, and it drilled a new water well at Monett.

The diesel switch engines would never leave the yard limits. Steam was still king on the Frisco, and all was right with the world. As the war wound to its close, the Frisco looked to the day it would leave the management of a Federal court and its receiver. The court granted permission to the Frisco to purchase, three, two-unit E7A (EA7) sets.

Immediately after the war the Frisco engineering department developed plans for a new yard and new engine facilities to replace the North Spring Yard and engine facilities. A proposal, dated January 1946, was released to the public during October 1946.

The proposed yard plan doesn’t differ much when compared to what would become the Kansas Street Yard or the West Yard. The new yard would contain approximately forty miles of track and have a capacity of about 2500 cars. The North Springfield yards had a capacity of about 790 cars.

However, as one examines plans, the stunning feature of the new yard is the engine facility. The plan called for a fifty-stall roundhouse with a 110-foot turntable. Four of the stalls were dedicated for diesel service. A 400-ton coal tower would handle the fueling. The new engine facilities certainly implied that Frisco steam locomotives would be on the scene for years to come. The longer turntable might even imply that the Frisco would buy larger steam power.



But we know the rest of the story. On January 1, 1947, the Frisco left receivership, and it became a new entity with new leadership. Mr. Clark Hungerford took reins of the company, and within the twinkling of an eye, steam was gone.

The EMD FT demonstrator set toured the Frisco, which was one of twenty roads to test the FT during its eleven-month tour of the country. The Frisco and three other roads declined to purchase the new, four-unit. 5400 horsepower FT set. Even though the Frisco had a delayed start with dieselization, it beat nearly everyone to the punch.

Sadly, steam never had a chance and the Frisco was slow to figure it out.

 

When World War Two ended during the first part of September 1945, the Frisco had forty locomotives on the property.

Forty diesels, you mean.

GS