Message: 8
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 20:18:31 -0600
From: "John A. Swearingen" <jas@s...>
Subject: Re: Interurbans in Q territory
Here's more on the Hannibal & St. Louis from a knowlegeable friend,
John Jacobs, who lives in that area.
John
He was seeing the right of way of the old Hannibal & St. Louis. It ran
from
Hannibal to Wentzville via New London, frankfort,Bowling Green, and
Troy. It
also had a branch to Perry Mo to tap some coal fields that were mined
there.
It was at one time owned by one of the owners of the Ringling Bros. and
Barnum& Bailey Circus.
I thought I read some where that it was John Ringling. The line had a
Wabash
flavor as it used the Wabash to gain access to St.Louis from
Wentzville.
Also the line used some old New York Central engines for years along
with
some of the Russian Decapods (i.e. SLSF 1630) but those engines were
too
big. I have seen some photo's of their engines and a coffee shop in
Hannibal
used to sell lithographs of a pencil drawing of one of their engines.
A fellow I work with lives in Center and said they are restoring the
old
depot there( A depot also still in existence in New London).
BNSF put about twelve cars of coal on the ground last Saturday morning
right
under the highway bridge in West Quincy. They still had the two that
laid
over on their sides there this evening.
Hope you are well and had a merry Christmas. Warmest wishes for the New
Year. Will write back soon.
Regards,
John