GP38-2 458 at Aurora, Missouri in December 1979 (Bob Dye).

This train is eastbound on the Springfield Subdivision. The train is just before the North Elliott Avenue crossing at mile post 268.74. The Frisco depot (MP 268.9) is south of the tracks, one block to the west. Its address is 100 South Madison Avenue. Further west, just beyond the depot is the Missouri Pacific diamond crossing at MP 269.0. This railroad crossing at grade is protected by an automatic interlocking.

The train’s locomotive consist includes at least four units. These include GP38-2s 458 and 473, an unidentified EMD unit and SD45 906. Please see this related Frisco Archive image.

The elevator leg, distribution pipes and hopper storage bins are located at the Aurora Agri-Center. They are located at 29 North Elliott Avenue. In the distance above the locomotive’s radiator section is part of a ready-mix concrete batch plant. The business is Kay Concrete Materials at 30 East Mill Street.

A decade or two earlier this same block was occupied by different rail served customers.

Moving west, the prior businesses included Sinclair Oil Company, the City of Aurora, a team track and Continental Oil Company. Sinclair and Continental were tank car served bulk oil and gasoline distributors.

Just behind the photographer is the Elliott Avenue grade crossing with the Missouri Pacific Railroad. This route is the southern section of the MoP’s Carthage Subdivision. One half mile to the north (compass west) their north/south line crosses the Frisco at MoP’s MP 489.6. On the immediate southwest quadrant of the Elliott Avenue crossing is their brick depot at 121 East Olive Street at their MP 489.1. Today, this depot is co-occupied by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and Aurora Historical Society.

The view is looking north northeast.

Special thanks to Mark Davidson.