Greetings Ricky Keil,
I live in Brookfield, Missouri, and have been an avid observer of the railroad
scene since the late 1960s. Although statistics may prove otherwise, my
observation is that there are no fewer freight trains through here per week
than there were in the late 1960s.
Of course, there are no longer East, West, or North locals or "turns". But,
there are two locomotives stationed here (approximately GP 30 variety) known
locally as the Macon Switcher. Its job is to go either East or West, 60 miles
every day to do work as needed. When it is operating normally it leaves town
around 8 AM, and returns usually late afternoon.
To balance some of that there is the daily coal train (Antelope Coal
Mine-Thomas Hill power plant), which goes loaded east to Bevier then south on
the highly upgraded ex-Bevier & Southern to reach the Thomas Hill power plant.
It is approximately daily, but times of operation are highly irregular and
unpredictable. It is very photographable here in Brookfield and where it
branches off to go south. A little walking may be needed to achieve this
latter, but you can get fairly close by automobile. It returns empty going
westbound, again irregularly.
Needles, 2 miles west of Brookfield, is where the Kansas City cut off begins to
go south. It is easily reachable by automobile and has some impressive signal
lights. I believe there is a 2-3 mile portion of the old Needles-St. Joseph
rails left between Needles and Laclede. There is an elevator at Laclede, but I
believe the rails are used mostly for storing cars.
Of structures in Brookfield, only the depot is left. The rails of the North
local branch from Laclede to Unionville are no longer there. However, one can
easily spot the old right-of-way in many places, from Highway 5. At Linneus, 5
miles north of Laclede, the old wooden depot still stands and is in good repair.
Closer to Brookfield, 2 miles north of the high school, is an old, authentic
4-window classic wooden Waycar, probably restorable with a lot of work. It was
originally built for the Burlington & Missouri River. [Someone needs to come
with a long, flat trailer and ? (ahem)? take that into "protective custody".]
As mentioned by another, east of Macon the railroad runs very near US Highway
36. In fact, from about Clarence to Shejbina-Monroe City, they run parallel for
a considerable distance.
At Bucklin, approximately 10 miles east of Brookfield, the old CB & Q line goes
under the old AT&SF double track mainline. Lots of railroad action there. And
there are numerous places to get good photos of both lines. Unbeknownst to
many, there is an interchange in the Northwest quadrant of the crossing. It is
very difficult to photograph because of foliage, and isn't used often.
If you would like to come this way, I would be happy to show you around to see
what little there is. Just give me a few days notice by e-mail. Sincerely, John
A. Swearingen, 1015 N. Monroe, Brookfield, Missouri 64628;
js08ws62@sbcglobal.net .
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