Russell, I have had the same question about a passenger depot. Back in earlier days this line did have passenger trains. So, I’m sure there was a facility other than the one you photographed at some point in the past. Hopefully, someone on this forum can shed a little more light on the subject.

The best source I’ve found on this area is the book ‘The White River Railway’ by Walter (Mike) Adams. Pages 73 to 75 cover the Crane to Springfield branch, originally built as the Springfield Southwestern Railway in 1907 and deeded to Iron Mountain in 1909. Mr. Adams book has a 1907 version photo of the depot you have above … not much changed other than the signs. He refers to the Springfield station as “…combination freight and passenger depot…by far the largest and most expensive station building on the White River Division.” The Frisco passenger depot was just a short distance from this building, facilitating passenger transfer between the MoPac and Frisco.

Apparently there was an interest to connect Springfield to Jefferson City, and better access to major MoPac operations (via Bagnell, site of the Lake of the Ozarks dam) but the branch from Bagnell never materialized. Westbound passengers coming from the south on the White River Division could connect to the Frisco in Aurora or Carthage without the connection at Crane. Early scheduling was such that it was more convenient to take MoPac to Aurora, then catch the Frisco to Springfield. Consequently MoPac passenger service in Springfield to the north and west never amounted to much, given the better access Frisco provided.