One Response to Caboose 12XX

1. Mark Davidson says:

   May 27, 2018 at 6:37 PM

   Train is southbound on the Willow Springs Subdivision. It is between W.S. Junction, MP 206.2, under the U.S. 65 Highway overpass, and Turner, MP 211.7. The caboose is on bridge 208.5 over East Old Sunshine Road (aka East Farm Road 148). In the mid-1970s East Sunshine Street (aka State Route D) was realigned, straightened, hills greatly reduced and rerouted on a new grade and bridge over the Frisco just to the north of this underpass.

   Subsequent improvements have resulted in the replacement of the wood components of this railroad bridge. These changes improved its durability and reduced the susceptibility to fire damage. The piles are now steel H-beams with concrete caps. The ballast deck wood stringers have been replaced with segmental precast concrete U-section trough approach spans on each end and longitudinal steel I-beam spans over the roadway.

   To the south (left) the caboose will soon pass over the two span 114’ deck plate girder (DPG) bridge 208.9 at Pierson Creek. Just downstream to the southwest of the bridge the creek will enter into the James River. From this confluence the James River will shortly enter the upper eastern limits of Lake Springfield. Just 2 miles further south the railroad itself will cross the James River on bridge 210.8. This 306’ bridge consists of two through plate girders (TPG) and an open deck pile (ODP) trestle.

   The intersecting road in the left foreground is South Farm Road 193. From this “T” shaped intersection the road parallels the railroad for several miles. Just south of the low water crossing of Pierson Creek, upstream east of the road and railroad, is a small cave below a bluff rising from the creek bed. The cave was a welcome diversion to explore between trains on hot and humid summer days.

   As the train descends from the Springfield Plateau down through the Pierson Creek and James River valleys it will change elevation from 1,352.54’ to 1,184.70’ in just under 4 miles. Along this twisting and turning route are mountain grades of up to 1.28 percent. Certainly there are steeper (up to 1.50 percent) and longer grades further south on the Willow Springs Subdivision. However, along this short route segment are beautiful forested rolling hills, rock cuts including Billy Goat Cut and scenic river valley vistas. Mile for mile it is hard to beat this easily accessible segment of Ozark Mountain railroading so close to, yet just outside Springfield.

   View is looking west.

   Hope this helps.

   Thanks!

   Mark

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