Rich Hill, MO depot. The structure was built in 1880; it’s still extant during October 1989, and into its second century of existence, the Rich Hill depot serves as an office and warehouse for the Rich Hill Grain Company. The Frisco branch that served this community ceased operations circa 1926-27. Has anybody been through town lately and noticed if its still standing?
Do you mean Rich Hill, MO? It has been awhile since I went through there but I think it is still there.
I had the opportunity to pass by Rich Hill, MO yesterday 9/9/2008. Unfortunately the northern, white, part has burned down and fire has heavily damaged the interior of the remaining structure. Enjoy these photographs of the depot in its final days on 2/17/2006. Notice in the 2nd photograph in the bottom center the rail still embedded in the grade crossing. Roger
I think that an argument could be made that up until the fire, the Rich Hill, MO depot was the oldest Frisco depot extant. Perhaps, now the depot at Urich, MO should be considered for this title. Does anyone have other nominations? Weaubleau, MO? Lowry City, MO? Others?
Hum, good question. The Mammoth Springs, AR depot was built in 1886. It is still standing as a museum. Roger
Rich Hill, MO In a recent post on the ex-Frisco branch to Rich Hill it said the line was abandoned in the 1920s. Does anyone know if this was a branch from Ft. Scott, KS? Secondly, if this was the case, did the Missouri Pacific (MP) take over this line to connect with their St. Louis, Ft Scott, and Wichita line or did the MP have a separate line from Butler? Thank you. Larry F.
The Rich Hill Branch left the Frisco's Kansas City Subdivision at a place called Linton, KS. It was located between Prescott, KS and Pleasanton, KS. At one time there was a depot and a wye at Linton, but these are long gone.
Karl, Thanks for the information on the Rich Hill branch. As a side note, do you or anyone else know, the year the Missouri Pacific quit Ft. Scott, KS?
Hearings for abandonment were held during 1964. I believe that the last Missouri Pacific (MP) trains ran through Ft Scott during 1965. While riding the Frisco passenger trains, I remember seeing the abandoned MP road bed between Ft Scott, KS and Edward, KS. The Frisco served some of the industries in Ft. Scott, KS that orphaned by the MP.
When I was running to Ft. Scott in 1990-1991, I could still make out portions of the Missouri Pacific main between Ft. Scott, KS and Edward, KS. Also, while waiting to be called back to Tulsa, OK I made several walking trips down to the old Katy and MP rights of way west of the Frisco main and north of downtown Ft. Scott. It was very interesting to me to see at least some of what was once there. Terry
It is too bad that the old depot burned. I used to see it a lot when I was a trainman on the Missouri Pacific Carthage Subdivision. It was during a long ago discussion in the MP depot at Nevada, MO concerning the Frisco presence in Rich Hill that I learned that old head clerks used SL as shorthand for the Frisco and AT for the Santa Fe. The old MP roadbed south of Ft. Scott, KS was part of the line that ran between Ft. Scott and Cornell Jct. which was east of Pittsburg, KS. I think it was abandoned a few years before the line through Ft. Scott, KS from Rich Hill, MO to Wichita, KS.
