What was the Frisco stop used for Ft. Leonard Wood back in passenger service days? I spent several hours looking thru my stuff today, trying to find my Dad's tickets from when he went to Basic Training. As I recall, he rode the CNW commuter into Chicago, the Chicago & Alton to St. Louis, and the Frisco from there. I found his dog tag and rifle marksman pins, etc. Must have put his train tix someplace else.
The stop for US Army folks going to Ft Leonard Wood was Newburg, MO, MP 119.1 on the SLSF Eastern Division. Ken
Hi, Until 1944 the Frisco railroad stopped in Newburg with their troop trains and buses from Ft. Wood would transit the troops to the base. Late in 1944 Frisco built the Bundy Switch and Ft. Wood Spur about 5 miles west of Newburg which allowed them to go all the way into the base. The troop trains went into the fort with the soldiers, but regular non-military personnel were not permitted to ride. Freight and war materials were shipped along the spur line into the base as well. As a matter of fact, my Dad met my Mom when he stopped in Newburg while being transferred to Ft. Wood on a troop train. My mom was at the Houston House where my Grandmother Annie Paul worked. My Dad went in for some lunch and saw my Mom, the rest is history! George
George, It appears the Fort Leonard Wood branch was opened before the U.S. entry into World War II. A couple of other posts on this site indicate that line opened in May 1941. Please see the following posts. http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=1888&highlight=ft+leonard+wood http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=1847 This is consistent with our nation's war preparations gear up before Pearl Harbor. Fort Wood and its rail line were built concurrently starting in 1940 and opened in 1941. A great area reference is the Historic Auto Tours / Route 66 web site. http://www.visitpulaskicounty.org/Brochures/rt662006.pdf. Please see the following references: Page 2, mile 5.3 (27.9) Page 3, mile 12.9 (20.3) Page 5, "Frisco Railroad" sidebar Page 7, "Fort Leonard Wood" sidebar Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
I would like to know more about Ft. Wood, the type of traffic carried over the years, the power assignments, track arrangement, photos, etc. I bet someone has some of this information. Looking forward to seeing what everyone has.
Don, Didn't they pull a couple of the 2-10-2s that were in the scrap line at the last minute to service this branch? I don't recall the numbers, but I've seen the topside photographs of one of them being given the new lease on life at West Springfield. Best Regards,
I think at one time the Frisco worked the fort. It would be great to know what that time period was and what equipment the Frisco used. I have heard that at some point, maybe the 1970s, the Army got their own switcher and worked the fort themselves. It would be good to know what type of engine it was and a photograph would be a bonus. Thanks all.
The two spot engines that were overhauled for FLW service were the 19 and the 40. I don't know when they retired them. I do know that at the time the line was finished, it would handle anything the Frisco had at the time. Biggest thing they had then were the 4400s. I think I posted one of Jerry Hurt's pictures of a 4415 class on the trestle.
The last train operated by the Frisco on the Fort branch run June 29 1973. Fred Webb was the engineer of GP7 SLSF 593. It was his last run as well. Apparently this was a very desirable assignment as it was called Monday-Saturday and the crew was home every night and Webb had seniority. This come from the August 1973 issue of the All Aboard. The article goes on to say that at times there where as many as seven to eight trains a day up the line. Almost any commodities would have been handled early on, everything it would take to keep a large base functioning. From food and clothing to fuel along with all the military equipment. Coal was a very common load with additional traffic during the fall to stock pile for the winter. Unloading facilities where able to handle gasoline and diesel as well as LP gas. On Mike Condren's website there is a photo of a GP7 pulling a LP tank car across the Big Piney River at Devils Elbow. Today it's almost exclusively flatcars, but the government still keeps it in good shape with a bridge replacement project starting this month. Brad
Ken The trestle being replaced is at MP 14.7, the contractor is moving in this week. The trestle at MP15.0 is scheduled next, possibly as early as this Fall. Brad
