Nostalgia & History > Frisco Friday: Riding the 'Highline' Part 5

Today will finish the series in 3 parts.
This link to Part 3 will take you to prior parts: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4251092,4251092#msg-4251092

​We are riding the St Louis-San Francisco's 'Highline' passenger local train No. 21 between Kansas City and Springfield in August 1950.
​Our train consists of a baggage car and one coach and is pulled by 4-6-0 number 1102 a 1907 product of Alco predecessor Schenectady Locomotive works. 
Number 1102 has less than a year left before being retired in June 1951. Steam is fast disappearing on the Frisco and the Clinton Subdivision,
as it is officially known, is one of the last areas where it will be found owing in part to the light bridge capacities on the line.

​Photo 1: This poorly exposed photo is redeemed by two measures. First, it shows the Frisco still managed to run a 'classy' operation on this
​               essentially branch line market. The seat backs have clean, snowy-white linen covers and by counting the visible heads it appears
​               that No. 21 was well patronized, at least on this day, in mid-American, pre-interstate-highway railroading. (I have a much better photo of a coach
               interior in Part 7)

Photo 2: We are approaching Lowry City, actually very close to the north switch of the siding.

Photo 3: Here is a real vignette of branch line railroading never to be repeated.
​              No. 21 is stopped at the depot at Lowry City. The baggage car is being serviced with milk cans loaded and unloaded. More cans can been seen on the ground just north of the
​              building. The engineer has taken the opportunity to discuss matters with the conductor while the normal array of small town station 'supervisors' and just
​              ordinary looker's-on view the proceedings. The baggage room door is open to allow the delivery car to do business and all is well on this summer afternoon.

Charlie





 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/17 11:05 by cewherry.

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Pic #1 is amazing with the head cloths.  Then #3 is amazing because it is so typical of a small train at a small station in 1950.  Heavyweight equipment, passengers and baggage.

Thanks for all your posts so far. The branchlince railroad scene is so underrepresented. I can just smell the coal smoke.

Victor A. Baird
​http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Is that a "hearse" at the loading dock?

elu34ch Wrote:
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> Is that a "hearse" at the loading dock?

 It sure is.......BTW: This series was really great, thanks for sharing...

In photo #3 there is an old brick building to the right of the depot.  It appears to be this building on Main St. between 2nd and 3rd.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1408528,-93.7277402,3a,75y,63.7h,87.08t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1sfuYtDUThtO22IV3oggWIWw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i44!6m1!1e1

hotrail Wrote:
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> In photo #3 there is an old brick building to the
> right of the depot.  It appears to be this
> building on Main St. between 2nd and 3rd.
>
> https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1408528,-93.727740
> 2,3a,75y,63.7h,87.08t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1sfuYtDUTh
> tO22IV3oggWIWw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i44!6m1
> !1e1

​Good eye! And if you follow the lay of the land both north and south one can see the right of way still visible. Thanks!

​Charlie

It was not unusual in the day for the railroad to deliver empty or "occupied" caskets. Also, though not related to the post, at one time in rural areas, the undertaker and his hearse might also be the"EMT". (Sounds like a conflict of interest does it not?)

Victor A. Baird
​http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

rev66vette Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> elu34ch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is that a "hearse" at the loading dock?
>
>  It sure is.......BTW: This series was really
> great, thanks for sharing...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/17 21:51 by wabash2800.