Missouri Southern

[Anonymous]

I'm hoping someone could help me find information about the Missouri Southern. I first saw this railroad in a 1928 railroad atlas with a line running from Leeper, MO to Bunker. I believe the railroad was built sometime between 1882 and 1898. The railroad is listed as "Abandoned" in the 11/72 (Trains) Official Guide. I think it was abandoned between 1928 and 1945. I would like to learn more about this railroad, and any information would be helpful. Thanks.

Mark

[nanaimo73]

It is shown in my 1942 atlas. This also shows a branch from just south of Bunker running south to Brushy, in Shannon County. Many lines like this shut down during the depression and then were dismantled in WW2 scrap drives.

[SSW9389]

The Missouri Southern RR was abandoned and dismantled in May 1941. Source Moody's Steam Railroads 1949.

[Anonymous]

The Missouri Southern was chartered as a narrow gauge (3') line under the original name of Mill Spring, Current River and Barnesville. Within a year or so, it was renamed the Missouri Southern. It was the common carrier that served the Clarkson Sawmill company that built its mill north of Mill Spring, later renamed Leeper. The line grew amoeba-like, generally west of Leeper across the Black River, for years as it brought logs to the sawmill. As narrow gauge, it only got a little past Ellington to a place called Reynolds. There were several different spurs of a few miles in length.

In 1906, Frank Stout (of Knapp and Stout) bought Clarkson and the Missouri Southern. He promptly standard gauged the system. It was well financed with steel bridges and four brand new locomotives, all from Lima. One 4-4-0, two 2-6-0s and one Shay. The line was also extended to Bunker, arriving in 1907-8. Again, there were at least three different spurs, the last one running from Olman to MidRidge. The original Clarkson mill was shut down in favor of serving smaller mills spread along the right-of-way or by the Bunker-Culler Lumber company mill in Bunker. The B-C L Co operated their own private logging line powered by a Heisler.

The line was quite prosperous for a while and stayed modern for such a shortline. They bought a Brill Model 55 railcar and, later, a Plymouth diesel that would compare with about a 70 ton GE locomotive. (Photos of the Plymouth are in Kalmbach's Diesel Spotters Guide under misc manufacturers. ) So, they operated as an all internal combustion line if you do not count the spare steamers. In the 30's the Missouri Southern bought a Terminal Railroad (St Louis) 0-6-0 and added a tiny pilot wheel, so did not end as all internal combustion.

As the timber played out, the line sank lower. Frank Stout died and the line was generally neglected.

The Brill Railcar served as a local school bus along the route. The last run was the last day of school in the spring of 1941

The Missouri Southern was a line with quite a personality. One indication is that American Model Builders currently has two Missouri Southern structures in its kit line. Corydon depot served as a combination general store and train depot. Ellington Mercantile was beside the tracks as Missouri Southern ran up the middle of the main street in Ellington. Both are (were in '02) still standing.

I took the Missouri Southern's 1907 annual pass, the year they standard gauged, and recreated the pass's artwork on a coffee mug. If anyone is interested in Missouri Southern coffee mugs, they are available from my local NRHS chapter from the Company Store at: palmettorails.com.

[Anonymous]

a great source for tracking the path of the Mo Southern is the midwest gazetteer.  http://gazetteer.midwestplaces.com/mo/reynolds/

nearly all, if not all, of the Mo Southern ran in Reynolds county.  This site lists towns, both current and abadoned, within that county.  As you review the list you will notice that some towns have notations such as "station on the Missouri Southern Line".  The description also gives detailed locations of former towns.  A year ago I drove the line as much as possible from Leeper to Bunker and at one low water crossing even found some twisted narrow gauge rail. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Also, if anyone is interested I recently found a photo of Missouri Southern engine No. 1 ELLINGTON a 2-6-0, in George Abdill's RAILS WEST on page 98.