Iron Mountain RR.

[Anonymous]

During the 40s and 50s, MoPac ran a branch line through southern Illinois on the west(river)side of the Mississippi river levee. Although Missouri Pacific was clearly visible on the sides of the tenders of those old teakettles, everyone called it the Iron Mountain RR. Does anyone have info on the history of this branch?

[Anonymous]

Hi There,

Evreybody refers to your MP branch as the "Iron Mountain RR" because once upon a time it belonged to MP ancestor road St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern.
I hope this helps

[Anonymous]

The St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern still exists as a tourist railroad in Jackson, MO. They have a web site. I don't recall the site address, but I'm sure you can find it through a search.
They still have one of the original steam locomotives as well as a PRR E8 that was donated by that RR.

[Anonymous]

The Iron Mountain Railroad dates back to the early 1850's. It is older than both the Missouri Pacific and The Frisco by a few years. To the best of my knowledge, it was the second railroad west of the Missouri, after the Pacific railroad of Missouri-(founded 1849, however, track was not layed until 1851. This track would later be split into Mo Pac and Frisco) It ran South out of St. Louis and through Desoto, Missouri. Today it is part of UP's De Soto Subdivision. The line built North West from Mineral Point, Missouri to Pea Ridge Iron Mine. MP used to run unit iron trains frequently back and forth up the lines 2% grades, however, now it sees a once a week UP local that hauls away waste. UP has a car shop at De Soto, their only car shop. The entire line today only sees three trains a day, including Amtrak's Texas Eagle.

[Anonymous]

I know MoPac used to call the branch from Iron Mountain Jct. (where that branch joins the Terminal Railroad near Grand Ave.) to the old Ivory St. Yard in South St. Louis the Oak Hill Branch. There is a street off of Chippewa near Gravois called Oak Hill Ave, but I'm not sure if the street named the rail branch or vice versa.

This isn't directly related to the Iron Mountain Railroad, but more to the Desoto Sub. Maybe you know this one Brian... There is an Ameren UE power plant on the Desoto Sub near Fine road off of Telegraph by the Meramec River. My mother-in-law lives close to there and I never seem to hear on the scanner anything about rail movements into or out of the plant. I thought it was a coal-fired plant, and I can't imagine they don't see daily rail traffic into the plant if it is. I guess being on the Mississippi they could use barges to get their coal. I know the plant further south in Crystal City gets daily coal from the BNSF via the River sub. Those trains roll by my house at least twice a day. Any thoughts about that plant on the Desoto sub?

Mark

[Anonymous]

The Power plant is actually called Meramec Plant by Ameren UE. They did see their fisrt coal loads by by train, however, they used a system of several parallel tracks, almost like a small yard. When a train would come in, the cars had to switched on to these sidings and unloaded by row. This process was very slow, and when the facility needed more coal to catch up with business, the process was too slow and cumbersome to compete with barging the coal in. I've heard that a loop has recently been built and UP is once again serving the plant.

[Anonymous]

I went to Ameren's website and they said they are currently getting coal via a coal "stock pile" fed by barge traffic... It would be nice to see some rail traffic to the plant.

I got to wondering when I noticed a loaded coal train with an SP unit pushing on the rear going east through downtown St. Louis taking the wye over to Lesperence Street yard. I work on the 40th floor of the Bell building with a good view of the Mill Creek Valley area and Lesperance street yard. I figured if it was going that route it must be bound for the Desoto Sub. Otherwise it would have gone over the MacArthur and down the Chester Sub if it was headed south. I doubt a load would tie up at Lesperance, although they do tie them down for days near the Amtrak depot at 12th Street. Just a little idle curiousity I guess...

Later,

Mark

[Anonymous]

Hopefully you've found what you're looking for on the SLIMS already. The Missouri Pacific Historical Society site has a page on the history of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern. The site is at www.mopac.org. They also have a yahoo group called MopacHS. Plenty of guys in that group could answer your questions.

[Anonymous]

I believe you, Mark, the website probably hasn't been up dated for a while though, because I have assured confirmation that a loop has been built, and was put into operatrion last September. The change is so recent that most of the sources I've checked havn't indicated it either. I'm surprised that Ameren didn't have information about it on their website. Anyway, it sounds like you have a great view your office, I don't think I would be able to work! I'd always be watching trains! Sorry about any confusion.

Brian

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for an article that appeared in one of the modeling magazines several years back about this line.
My nephew wants to model it and we can't remember the magazine nor the year or month the article was in.
Anyone have any info on this?
Please email if so to [e-mail] if you can help.

Thanks Much,

Steve