Bangert, MO, MP 117.2 - Was There A Wye Here (Benton Creek)?

Discussion in 'Salem Branch' started by Explorer Chris, Mar 26, 2015.

  1. Chris,
    Discussion in 'Salem Branch' started by Explorer Chris, Mar 26, 2015.

    mountaincreekar answers Chris's questions in the order that they were asked:

    - WIKI - Missouri Railroads .com lists all railroad in Missouri's history.
    - Salem branch started in Cuba in 1871. Got to Salem 1873. Branches had different construction dates.
    - "Lead Jct." to Viburnam; dates ~ 1966 by Frisco, 1980 owned by BN, BNSF RR 1996 to now. Now the Lead Line is embargoed since about 2004.
    - Abandoned roadbed from just north of Cook Station shown on the older topo map was the Sligo Branch.
    - All Salem Branch had rails removed ~1984-85 to Lead Jct.
    - Sligo Branch was paid for by Sligo Furnace Railroad 1880-1881. Deeded over to the St. Louis, Salem and Little Rock RR. who at time was the Salem Branch.
    - Sligo to Viburnum 1912 was for the Sligo and Eastern RR paid for by the Iron County Center RR, Inc. (a paper organization of investors from Iron County with the Sligo Furnace Company).
    - Crooked Creek East Prong to Dillard row ~ 1890.
    - The Sligo Furnace Company incorporated the S & E RR in 1902.
    - When they got their first shay loco was ~ 1906. No records found what steam locomotives 1, 2 and 3 were. One or some of those three loco's were still used at least to about 1905 - 1906 when the two Shay locomotives arrived. The third Shay arrived in ~ 1916.
    - The point north of Cook Station ~ 1.5 miles to the Sligo Jct. was renamed as Goltra Junction when Mr. Goltra purchased the Sligo Furnace Company.
    - Where was a bridge over the Meramec River? Now highway MM at the former Goltra Junction.
    - The Salem Branch was the St. Louis, Salem and Little Rock Railroad 1871 to 1877. Reorganized as the St. Louis Salem and Arkansas Railroad 1877. The St. Louis, Salem and Arkansas Railroad started leasing to the SLSF.
    - 1875-76 SLSF RR was incorporate (spun off) by Atlantic and Pacific who was not a parent company. The Director who had been the President of the South Pacific RR Company of Missouri (and a Director in the A&P RR) purchased the SLSF, Inc. at a foreclosure sale on the capital steps; and two days later re-sold it to the investors of the new SLSF RR. He did the same for the Pacific RR to become the Missouri Pacific, Inc.
    - Lead Line was built in 1966-67 by the Frisco.
    - The Sligo furnace blew-out again in ~ 1921 and was not rebuilt.
    - Yes, the ROW from Dillard to East End was were today are the highways except for the small switch-back up in the first hill Southeast of Dillard. The S & E RR operated from 1902 - 1929. It's financial books were closed in 1934 along with the Furnace Company's. Frisco still used a short section of the Sligo Branch near Goltra Jct. for a few years.
    - At Viburnum the ICC, RR owned a rail yard where cord wood was stored; stacked back to what is the football field today.
    - Bangert Branch - Bangert to De Camp always followed the ridgelines.
    - Bangert 1st long branch goes North Northwest to Blue Knob Mountain, then West to Clinton (to now Hwy 68), then North to Winkler mine, (now Hwy 68), next North to Smith's Mine, (now Hwy 68), then North passing by Asher Cemetery, (now Hwy 68), then (departs Hwy 68) follows ridge ~ 1.5 miles to the North and returns to (now Hwy 68), goes for ~ 1.5 miles North.
    Next turns Westward on De Camp Road, Westward to De Camp Mine.
    - Bangert to De Camp abandoned 1934, Bangert to Condrary,
    Howes Station to Plank 1874/1879
    Plank Iron Bank Branch - Howe's to Plank Iron Bank
    Condrary Branch - Bangert to Condrary
    Salem - Spur (South Southeast) to Riverside Mine
    Salem - Spur (Southwest) to mines
    Cherry Valley Branch - Sankey to Cherry Valley
    Other branches
    Send me separate conversations with just a few questions on each and put on other addressees
    on each conversation. I recommend addressing: Wpmorelad719 for Salem Branch, Jesse Henry for Lead Line, me for all, pick two others on each new conversation. My answers will be in BOLD typing them behind each of your questions in each new conversation.

    Your discussion in 'Salem Branch' etc. started by Explorer Chris, Mar 26, 2015.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 11, 2023
    qaprr likes this.
  2. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    I have been up that line many times working several machines. That would have been in the mid 70's. I don't recall any evidence of a wye or any where an old one could have been. I didn't make it all the way to Salem, other wise I covered it all and down close to the mine.
     
    mountaincreekar likes this.
  3. [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    LIDAR to the rescue!!!
     
  4. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Little bit late to the party here, but the settlement or village of Boscobel in Dent County was in this cradle if you will. There was a short spur here, with a west connection that shows up on a 1950 topographic map. However, no wye is shown. The village of McKenzie was just east (geographically north) of here, but again, no indication of a wye or even a siding or spur at the latter location.

    I use Historicaerials.com to view aerial photos of the area, as well as topographic maps. I used the 1984 aerial viewer to confirm that the branch was still in use that year, as evidenced by a few cars spotted at the end of the line in Salem.

    Pat Moreland
    Wesco, Missouri
     
  5. jdstotler

    jdstotler Member

    Very late to this conversation, but this Time Table from The Salem Monitor on May 15th, 1875 shows Benton Creek, at the right location for this spur to be located. Picture attached below:
     

    Attached Files:

    mountaincreekar likes this.
  6. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Note there was a train turning at "Bent n Creek" (the "o" didn't survive somehow): No. 3 arrived at 12:00 and left as No 4 at 12:45. Operating logic at the time meant it was highly likely there was a means to turn the engine. Seldom would a line in the 1870s run tender first for any significant distance.

    To me, that lends credence to the supposed wye at that location.

    Just sayin'.
     
  7. jdstotler

    jdstotler Member

    More references from the Salem Monitor to a switch at “Benton Creek”. At the northern terminus of this wye was an iron bank known as Benton Creek Iron Mine. I’d say this confirms the wye at this location.

    Newsclippings below:
     

    Attached Files:

    mountaincreekar, klrwhizkid and qaprr like this.
  8. Wilson's Mill, became Boaz~1906. That name was already used at a different post office; in addition to some village folks did not like the name of Boaz.

    The name was changed again in 1907 to Wesco when the Western Electric Service Company brought telephone service to the area. Not having electric signals, the Sligo Furnace Company's railways and it's Sligo & Eastern Railroad, Inc. went from a "block system" to an improved block system involving the new telephone systems.

    Latitude
    37.85949° or 37° 51' 34" north
    Longitude
    -91.43209° or 91° 25' 56" west
    Elevation
    866 feet (264 metres)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 11, 2023
  9. jdstotler

    jdstotler Member

    C7F3F094-47E4-4BD9-B244-B2850596AF11.jpeg

    If we weren’t already sure of the Benton Creek Spur, we certainly can be now. This excerpt is from 1873.
     

Share This Page