A lost railroad.......but signs still lerk around the state

[unionpacificnut]

Missouri Pacifc is one of the best roads even though it runs no more. Missouri pacific has been Missouris railroad sense.............. i don't know a long time a guess. I like Missouri Pacific more than UP (and that is alot!!!!!!) i am not the biggest MP fan but i am close. My uncle worked for both UP and MP. He drove the colorado eagle!!!!! If it is blue white and red and is going over 53 it the eagle exspress look out.

[Railfan1]

[tim o'm]

While I don't know much about MP, I believe it began with the first steam locomotive to cross the Mississippi (on a barge) in 1851. I also remember at least one of the steam locomotives survives. Is it in Jefferson City?

[MopacBarrettTunnel]

Tim, only 2 MoP steamers - both 4-6-0's - are known to have survived.  #2522 is in Paris Arkansas in a state of benign neglect.  MoP #2707 is at the Museum of Transport here in St. Louis, and has been cosmetically restored to her 1899-original appearance as St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern #635. 

Sadly, the diesel tally isn't much better - only Alco RS-3 # 4502, also at the MOT here, is known to me at present.  Amazingly enough, you can still see remnants of the original alignment for the Pacific Railroad {MoP's predecessor}, if you have Google Earth, or a similar GPS-based browsing tool.  The Creve Coeur Lake / Chapman Branch near the city limits is still visible in places, as is the original single-track line through the Barretts tunnels, which the MOT is now caretaker of.  Also visible if you know where to look is the original Pacific RR alignment through Glencoe, MO {just west of Eureka and Pacific}, portions of which currently operate as the Wabash, Frisco & Pacific scale live-steam railroad!!!!

[arkansasrailfan]

A SW7 or something like that still exsist, but the paint is faded badly but you can still see the logo. I think it might be in northwest Louisana.

[SSW9389]

 

 MopacBarrettTunnel a man named Ed Bowers owns the ex MP RS-3 #4505 in Houston, TEXAS. This locomotive is being prepared for movement to the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff.

Tim, only 2 MoP steamers - both 4-6-0's - are known to have survived.  #2522 is in Paris Arkansas in a state of benign neglect.  MoP #2707 is at the Museum of Transport here in St. Louis, and has been cosmetically restored to her 1899-original appearance as St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern #635. 

Sadly, the diesel tally isn't much better - only Alco RS-3 # 4502, also at the MOT here, is known to me at present.  Amazingly enough, you can still see remnants of the original alignment for the Pacific Railroad {MoP's predecessor}, if you have Google Earth, or a similar GPS-based browsing tool.  The Creve Coeur Lake / Chapman Branch near the city limits is still visible in places, as is the original single-track line through the Barretts tunnels, which the MOT is now caretaker of.  Also visible if you know where to look is the original Pacific RR alignment through Glencoe, MO {just west of Eureka and Pacific}, portions of which currently operate as the Wabash, Frisco & Pacific scale live-steam railroad!!!!

[MopacBarrettTunnel]

MopacBarrettTunnel a man named Ed Bowers owns the ex MP RS-3 #4505 in Houston, TEXAS. This locomotive is being prepared for movement to the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff.

Thanks for this wonderful information, SSW.   One MoP RS-3 still in existence is good news - TWO of 'em is Manna from Railway Heaven!!!!

I can't say for certain, but one of the MoP "GP12" rebuilds might still be with us, as well. 

[Gandy Dancer]

Missouri Pacifc is one of the best roads even though it runs no more.

Well maybe, but when the UP bought them, the upper management from the MP who were give executive positions at UP terminated the steam program and almost razed the Cheyenne roundhouse. If the UP president hadn't, by chance, been passing through Cheyenne it would all be history.  He noticed all the heavy equipment around the roundhouse and ask what was going on.  The former MP people responsible were quickly put in their place, and the steam  program was reinstated (I just happened to be in Omaha at the time staying at the same hotel with all the corporate lawers in town for something or the other).  MP had zero interest in preserving their heritage.