MCRR Towns/Stations Listing The St. Louis Line
began in Kansas City, diverting from RI's Golden State Route at Armourdale Yard.
Leeds Jct., located just west of Independence and south of I-70,
is where the St. Louis line diverges from the
former SLSF Highline,
and crosses over the UP and KCS mainlines by way of a double through truss and plate girder bridge. Leeds Jct. is highly visible
from I-70 (look south as you cross over UP/KCS tracks).
After ducking under
I-435, the tracks skirt the southern edge of
the Truman Sports complex (Royals/Cheifs stadiums),
and heads southest toward Raytown. Lees Summit The St.
Louis line encounters "suburban America" as it
winds through the bustling metropolitan cities
of Raytown and Lees Summit, paralleling UP's own high-density
St. Louis mainline (Sedalia Subdivision) in some areas.
Both suburbs had been hotbeds for
neighborhood groups that
opposed the reopening of the railroad (Click Here), however, the STB ruled
against them this summer, removing yet
another roadblock for the Missouri Central project. Raytown is
also the location of
a St. Louis line rail overapass (over Route. 350) that the state of Missouri
removed earlier this
decade as part of a highway widening project. Believing
that the tracks were out-of-use for good, the State
removed the trackage and brige without SSW's permission, and is
obligated to replace them as soon as possible.
The first tunnel going west, but the fourth coming from the east ducks under Bannister Road BETWEEN RAYTOWN AND LEES SUMMIT Pleasant Hill, already a "major" railroad junction, will
see even more trains once the St. Louis line is reactivated.
Pleasant Hill is is where the
Missouri & Northern Arkansas mainline (ex-UP Carthage Sub)
joins Union Pacific's Sedalia Subdivision into Kansas City.
Including Amtrak trains, this agricultural
community often sees up to 50 trains daily. MCRR must
re-construct the old Rock Island junction
with the MNA mainline, which is located due
south of the MNA/UP junction. Pleasant Hill is the
last time MCRR will
intesect with another active railroad until it reaches
the St. Louis area. This community was where the RI crossed under the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas line
from Parsons, KS, through Clinton and Sedalia, MO to St. Louis.
The MKT line, which was abandoned by Union Pacific in 1989,
passes over
the MCRR on a steel plate girder bridge, just north (east) of
MCRR's grade
crossing with MO State Highway 52 on the southeast side of town.
(The MKT right
-of-way is currently being developed
into a hiking/biking path- the Katy Trail)
History points out a one-time
interchange track between the two railroads, which was long
gone before the late 1960's.
Also at the MO Hwy. 52. crossing is an MFA fertilzer plant, a potential
rail user. Depot was also at this highway crossing.
Hunt Spur Just a "spot in the railroad". A couple of miles east of this community (Ionia), RI passes over U.S. Highway 65 (Little Rock-Springfield-Sedalia-Des Moines). This section of U.S. 65 is in the process of being widened to 4-lanes and will someday require a wider railroad overpass when the railroad reopens. The bridge itself is a reinforced concrete structure spanning the 2-lane highway. The bold white letters spelling out "ROCK ISLAND" can still be seen clearly on each side of the overpass as you drive underneath. On east end of overpass is an MFA mill/fertilizer plant known as Hunt Spur, which was built in 60's. This MFA plant is a potential rail user.
Leeds Jct.
MP 278.7
PHOTO 1
Tunnel #4 (Vale)
MP 278.0
Photo 1
Photo 2
MP 272.0
Pleasant Hill
MP 263.0
Chilhowee
MP 235.0This tiny community
is home to a grain elevator and a propane distributor, both of
which are very interested in the re-activation
of the railroad for their personal shipping purposes.
MP 216.0
Ionia
MP 205.4
MP 202.0
Cole Camp Junction (Station)
MP 199.0Located due north of the actual townsite of Cole Camp (on Hwy. U), this is where the RI crossed the Missouri Pacific's Warsaw branch, which ran from Sedalia, south to Warsaw, via Cole Camp and Lincoln. This MoPac branchline, which was originally constructed as the narrow-gauge Sedalia, Warsaw & Southwestern, was abandoned and removed in 1954, rendering Cole Camp Jct. a junction no more!
Stover
MP 186.0.0This quaint village is home to a modest-sized feed mill, and is laid out along a bend in the railroad. While the spur leading to the dock of the mill was removed, the switch remains in the mainline. This could have been one of the spurs that SSW removed in the early 80's to discourage rail operations.
Versailles
MP 177.0This town, pronounced "VUR-SALES" (instead of it's European namesake city, which is pronounced "VUR-SIE), was also served by a Missouri Pacific branchline (Boonville-Tipton-Versailles)into the 1950's. The original railroad depot burned in the 1960's, and a couple of sidings are all that can be found. There is evidence that a local feed mill was served by RI upon shutdown. Large bridge west of town (see photo link, left)
Eldon
MP 160.0Eldon was a major community for the St. Louis Line, and still has it's small, mile-long yard with depot, of which the was the crew-change point. This town was yet another RI point to be served by a Mopac line- this one ran from Jefferson City, south through Eldon to Bagnell, near Osage Beach. The Mopac was abandoned in 1961, but continued to be a major town for the Rock Island, as evidenced by the many spurs leading to the many small industries (including an MFA mill, two oil dealers a wood products company and a propane dealer) within the community, all of which could easily revert back to rail use. U.S 54 crosses the MCRR by way of a concrete overpass, just east of town. This town will play a vital role, once again, for the Missouri Central. Eldon, located just north of the Lake of the Ozarks tourism area is also the planned station for excursion trains from St. Louis that are in the planning stages (let's see some freight trains to begin with!)
Tunnel #3 (Eugene)
MP 149.5Second tunnel going east, but is the third going westbound.
Meta
MP 134.6This town will be a major site for MCRR business, as it is home to Patio Chief Inc. charcoal warhouses, as well as Diamond Dogfood company. Diamond was a major leader in the Save The Rock Island Committee, and will be a major rail shipper. Meta also has an MFA plant.
Tunnel #2
MP 128.6Near the community of Koeltztown.
Tunnel #1
MP 235.0Located just 1/2 mile before entering downtown Freeburg.
Freeburg
MP 118.2Another small community and home to an MFA feed mill. Located 1/2 mile east of Tunnel #1
Gasconade River Bridge
(Gascondy)
MP 114.5The RI sails across the Gasconade River and valley on a 1800ft long, 90ft. high steel trestle. This bridge is hailed as the greatest scenic highlight on the route. One of the gratest railroad bridges in Missouri- quite a sight to behold! The proposed excursion trains will cross this highlight on their way from St. Louis to Eldon.
Belle
MP 105.2Home to charcoal and wood pallet warehouses. Shoe was factory located east of town toward Cannan, also small MFA elevator, warehouse. Belle is at top of ruling eastbound 42,000 ft, 1% grade.
Bland
MP 100.1Bland was end-point of SSW operations until the 1983. Included a team-track and loading dock and warehouses of Kingsford Charcoal (now owned by pool table company)
Cannan
MP 95.6No industry, just a "spot in the tracks".
Owensville
MP 91.5Owensville, was the true end-point of SSW operations from 1983 to 1995, before cutting back to Union. Home to Superior Printing, a former rail-user, and a clay company (west side of town), which closed a few years ago, leaving Owensville without a need for rail service.
Gerald
MP 80.7Gerald is home to large MFA grain mill/warehouse Still has original wooden RI depot intact, restored and now Chamber of Commerce
Union
MP 59.5Major town, largest west of St. Louis suburbs (pop. 16,000). Union is current end of track. Home to a two major customers- a lumber yard and an industry that receives plastic pellets for molding plastic products. Active track ends at industrial park.
Labadie
MP 46.0Labadie is yet another town served by the MP, but this MP track is now UP's high-density Sedalia Sub (KC-STL), of which the St. Louis line last "saw" back in Pleasant Hill. The two tracks cross here, and the St. Louis line begins it's trek toward the Missouri River valley, while the UP continues it's own trek into St. Louis. St. Louis metro area begins east of here. Lots of hills, rivers and big railraod bridges in area.
Ameren
MP 43.0-44.5Site of a major Union Electric power plant (built 1970 -four units at 2,300 Generating Capacity in Megawatts), which receives unit coal trains from the nearby UP mainline (via spurBoth the UP and STL line have spurs running into the plant. UP is trying to limit MCRR from serving the plant, which SSW and earlier, RI, did. The UP connects to the MCRR line thought the power plant.
Chesterfield
MP 26.8.2Large St. Louis suburb with active shipper(s) in north side industrial park.
Vigus
MP 18.0MCRR operations will commence at MP 19.0, just before reaching this "station". Spur to Weber quarry.
Lackland
MP 12.8Also served by Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, Lackland has a few major rail-served industries, including the St. Louis- Post Dispatch and a couple of soda-pop bottling companies. Lackland has a small yard, and is the base for Union Pacific crews that work the St. Louis line job. Several sources tell of all UP operations given to a new company- the "Lackland Western", but details were scrapped due to the MCRR sale.
St. Louis
Carrie Ave. Yard
MP 1.0Most trackage from Lackland into St. Louis (Carrie Ave. Yard) is operated by the Terminal R.R. of St. Louis and Norfolk Southern. RI operated over Wabash (later Norfolk and Western, now Norfolk Southern) trackage into St. Louis. Original grade into city abandoned before 1950, now under freeway.
