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St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern

Iron Mountain Bull
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE
ST. LOUIS, IRON MOUNTAIN AND SOUTHERN RAILWAY
 

 

  • 1851 Mar. 3 Created by special act of Missouri Legislature
  • 1853 Feb. 9 Cairo and Fulton Railroad of Arkansas is chartered
  • 1853 Feb. 14 President Fillmore signs act of Congress granting right-of-way through U.S. reservations at St. Louis
  • 1853 Oct. First shovelful of dirt turned to begin construction of the Iron Mountain Road
  • 1853 Nov. 25 Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway organized
  • 1854 Jan. 12 The Cairo and Fulton of Missouri is chartered
  • 1856 Construction of the Iron Mountain begins in earnest.
  • First locomotive arrives on the Iron Mountain
  • First locomotive received by Cairo and Fulton of Missouri
  • 1857 The Iron Mountain reaches DeSoto, Mo.
  • 1858 Apr. 2 The Iron Mountain road is completed to Pilot Knob, Missouri
  • 1864 Sep. Price’s Raid and the Battle of Pilot Knob
  • 1866 Feb. 19 The State of Missouri forecloses on the Iron Mountain
  • 1867 Jan. 7 The Iron Mountain is sold by the state to three investors
  • 1867 Jan. 12 The Iron Mountain is sold to Thomas Allen
  • 1867 Jul. 29 Reorganized as the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad (1867)
  • 1868 Jan. STLIM again seized by the State of Missouri
  • 1868 Mar 18 STLIM railroad is returned to the Company
  • 1869 Aug. 14 The Belmont Branch is completed
  • 1871 Agreement for sleeping cars is signed with Pullman
  • Construction of the Cairo and Fulton of Arkansas begun
  • 1872 Machine shops established at DeSoto, Missouri
  • 1872 May 21 The Cairo, Arkansas and Texas Railroad formed
  • 1872 Nov 4 The Iron Mountain tracks reach the Missouri/Arkansas state line
  • 1873 The Cairo, Arkansas and Texas line achieves 70 miles of track
  • 1873 Jan. 7 Cairo and Fulton trains reach the White River
  • 1873 Feb. 7 First train from St. Louis reaches Little Rock
  • 1873 Dec. 21 Baring Cross Bridge over the Arkansas River at Little Rock is completed
  • 1873 Dec. 22 First though train from Little Rock to St. Louis leaves
  • 1874 Jan. 15 The Cairo and Fulton Railroad reaches Texarkana
  • 1874 Jan. 31 Robbery at Gad’s Hill, Missouri
  • 1874 May 6 The Railroad reorganizes as the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
  • 1879 Jun. 28 Entire road changed to standard gauge in one day
  • 1880 Jay Gould gains control of the railroad
  • 1882 The Iron Mountain renumbers its locomotive roster
  • 1883 Dec. Jay Gould controls 9,547 miles of railroad lines
  • 1885 Nov, 27 Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railway organized
  • 1887 Jan. 28 The Iron Mountain buys the Little Rock, Mississippi River& Texas Railway
  • 1890 Kansas and Arkansas Valley line is completed
  • 1892 Jay Gould dies
  • 1892 Jul. 1 Road is connected via HCA&N to New Orleans
  • 1893 Nov 3 Robbery at Olyphat, Arkansas
  • 1901 Feb. 8 White River Railway Co. is organized
  • 1905 Iron Mountain again renumbers its locomotive roster
Missouri Pacific Iron Mountain buzzsaw logo
  • 1915 Mar. 9 George J. Gould loses control of the Iron Mountain
  • 1915 Aug. 19 The Iron Mountain Road enters receivership
  • 1917 May 12 The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern is merged with the Missouri Pacific
St. Louis & Iron Mountain steam locomotive #634
St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway #634 (later renumbered #2706) was mainline power when delivered to the Iron Mountain in 1889, ending its career on Missouri Pacific branchlines. Today, sister locomotive #635/2707 (seen below) is preserved at the St. Loius Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. / Charlie Duckworth Collection (this photo is also seen in the MPHS 2001 Calendar)
St. Louis Iron Mountain steam locomotive #635

PREDECESSORS, SUBSIDIARIES AND ACQUISITIONS OF THE
ST. LOUIS, IRON MOUNTAIN AND SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY

 

  • St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad Company created by special act of Missouri on March 3, 1851
  • St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway Co. formed on May 6, 1874 through the consolidation of:
  • St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad Company (1867), organized July 29, 1867 from the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad Company of 1851
  • Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company of Arkansas created by special act of Arkansas on January 12, 1853; chartered February 9, 1853
  • Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company of Missouri organized under Missouri law January 12, 1854; reorganized May 21, 1872 as the Cairo, Arkansas and Texas Railroad Company
  • Iron Mountain and Helena Railroad Company, created by special act of Arkansas on December 31, 1860; sold February 21, 1882 to Kansas City and Southern Railway Co.
  • Kansas City and Southern Railway Co. organized under Missouri laws on June 10, 1880; sold October 26, 1882 to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway Co.
  • Little Rock, Mississippi River and Texas Railway Company organized under Arkansas laws on April 28, 1877; sold at foreclosure to Jay Gould on January 28, 1887; Gould then deeded it to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern
  • Texas, Mississippi River and Northwestern Railroad Company organized under Arkansas laws on November 11, 1873 as a consolidation of:
  • Little Rock, Pine Bluff and New Orleans Railroad Company organized in Arkansas on November 24, 1868
  • Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River Railroad Company created under special act of Arkansas on January 22, 1855 sold at foreclosure on December 16, 1875 and subsequently deeded by special master to the Little Rock, Mississippi River and Texas Railway
  • Jackson Branch Railroad Company chartered to build 35 miles of railroad from Attenville, Missouri through Jackson and on into Perry County to a point on the Mississippi opposite Grand Tower in Illinois; first meeting of the Board of Directors held June 16, 1883, with L. H. Davis appointed President; road completed to Jackson by January 6, 1885, and sold on that date to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern for $ 147,743.87; road ceased to exist on August 22, 1885
  • Camden and Alexandria Railway Company organized under general laws of Arkansas on April 3, 1889; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on May 27,1892
  • Houston, Central  Arkansas and Northern Railway Company organized in Arkansas on January 1, 1890-, sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on December 13, 1893
  • White River Railway Company organized under Arkansas law on February 8, 1901; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on January 31, 1903
  • Memphis, Helena and Louisiana Railroad Company organized under Arkansas law on November 7, 1901; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on April 30, 1903
  • Little Rock and Fort Smith Branch of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company created under general laws of Arkansas on November 25, 1853, name changed to Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Company on January 22, 1855; sold at foreclosure to bondholders’ agents on December 10, 1874; acquired by new Company called Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad on December 19, 1874
  • Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad organized under Arkansas law on December 9, 1874; acquired another railroad of the same name on December 19, 1874; name changed to Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway on June 12, 1875; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on April 13, 1906
  • Coal Hill Branch of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway, organized under Arkansas law December 26, 1884; sold to Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway on January 12, 1885
  • Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf Railway Company organized under general laws of Louisiana on June 7, 1887, entered receivership on February 12, 1898; sold at foreclosure March 24, 1902 to FarTner’s Loan and Trust Co.; reorganized May 28. 1902 as St. Louis, Watkins and Gulf Railway Co.
  • St. Louis, Watkins and Gulf Railway Company organized under general laws of Louisiana on May 28, 1902; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Pine Bluff and Western Railway Company organized under general laws of Arkansas on June 24, 1899; sold to Pine Bluff and Western Railroad Company on October 5, 1903
  • Pine Bluff and Western Railroad Company organized under Arkansas law on August 27,1903, purchased the Pine Bluff and Western Railway Co. on October 5, 1903; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway Company on September 1, 1909
  • Mississippi River, Hamburg and Western Railway Company organized under general laws of Arkansas on June 3, 1897; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway Company on September 1, 1909
  • Little Rock and Monroe Railway Company organized in Arkansas on August 13, 1903; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on Sept 1,1909
  • Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railway organized under Arkansas laws on November 27, 1885, amended March 13, 1890; also organized in State of Kansas in 1888; acts of Congress approved June 1, 1886 and February 24, 1891 granted rights-of-way through Indian Territory, sold by deed to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909 (all except 2.41 miles which were sold to the Missouri Pacific)
  • Gurdon and Fort Smith Railroad organized under general laws of Arkansas on June 11, 1900; sold by deed to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Gurdon and Fort Smith Northern Railroad organized in Arkansas March 17, 1905; sold to St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Garland Western Railway Company incorporated in Arkansas on April 17, 1903; purchased by St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • El Dorado and Bastrop Railway Company incorporated under general laws of Arkansas on February 17, 1902; purchased by St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Arkansas Southwestern Railway Company, reorganized from the Southwestern Arkansas and Indian Territory Railroad Co. on April 28, 1900 in Arkansas; sold to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Southwestern Arkansas and Indian Territory Railroad Company organized under general laws of Arkansas on June 11, 1884; entered receivership in 1896; reorganized as Arkansas Southwestern Railway Co. on April 28, 1900
  • Brinkley, Helena and Indian Bay Railroad Company organized in Arkansas on July 19, 1889, sold to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Arkansas Central Railway Company organized in Arkansas through a consolidation of two predecessors on August 31, 1870:
  • Arkansas Midland Railroad created by special act of Arkansas on November 7, 1853
  • Little Rock and Helena Railroad Company organized under general laws of Arkansas on March 8, 1869 sold at foreclosure on July 26, 1877 to agents for the bond holders; formally sold January 3, 1880 to Arkansas Midland Railroad Company.
  • Arkansas Midland Railroad Company organized under general laws of Arkansas on May 15, 1878; acquired property of the Arkansas Central Railway on January 3. 1880; sold to the St. Louis, Imn Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Arkansas and Louisiana Railway Company organized in Arkansas on September 13, 1882, having as constitute bodies two predecessors:
  • Arkansas and Indian Territory Railway Company organized in Arkansas on September 13, 1882, purchased the Washington and Hope Railway Co. on September 18, 1882; was merged into and its property conveyed on May 17, 1883 to the Arkansas and Louisiana Railway Co.
  • Washington and Hope Railway Company incorporated under general laws of Arkansas on June 14, 1877; originally organized on April It, 1877 as the Washington and Hope Tramway Company, incorporated in Arkansas on May 7, 1877; built a tramway from Washington, Arkansas to a distance of 9 to 10 miles toward Hope; on May 31, 1877
  • Stockholders of the tramway company organized the Washington and Hope Railway Company, which made a railroad of the tramway and extended its length sold to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Little Rock and Hot Springs Western Railroad Co. organized in Arkansas on July 18, 1899; on the same day acquired the Little Rock, Hot Springs and Texas Railway ; sold to the St. Louis, 4ron Mountain and Southern by deeds dated September 1, 1909 and October 11, 1911
  • Little Rock, Hot Springs and Texas Railway organized under general laws of Arkansas on December 11, 1893; sold at foreclosure to agent of holders of defaulted obligations and acquired July 18, 1899 by Little Rock and Hot Springs Western Railroad Company.
  • Farmerville and Southern Railroad Company incorporated under Louisiana law on July 31, 1903, organized by and stock owned by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern; chartered to construct a line from a connection with Monroe Branch at Litro, Louisiana to Farmerville, Louisiana (22.59 miles), completed on October 31, 1904; formally purchased by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • St. Louis Valley Railway incorporated under the general laws of Illinois on March 25,1901 to construct a railroad from a point in or near east St. Louis, Illinois to a point in or near Cairo, Illinois; acquired by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on May 26,1903
  • East and West Illinois Railway incorporated under general laws of Illinois on March 12, 1902 to construct a railroad from some point near the city of Mt. Carmel west to a point on the Mississippi River near Thebes; purchased by the St. Louis Valley Railway on November 20, 1902
  • St. Louis Valley Transfer Railway incorporated under general laws of Illinois on December 31, 1902 to construct a railroad from a point near the intersection of the Waterloo and East Carondelet Turnpike Road with the St. Louis Valley Railway, west to the Mississippi River, and a branch beginning on lot 23 of Prairie du Pont commons and runing north to a point near Dupo, Illinois on the St. Louis Valley Railway; purchased on May 26,1903 by the St. Louis Valley Railway
  • Coal Belt Railway Company incorporated under the general laws of Illinois on March 27, 1903; company formed and line built by the Peabody Coal Company, completed in 1904; the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern acquired a majority of stock in December 1904 and took over operation in January 1905, formally conveyed to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern by deed on September 1, 1909
  • Herrin Railway Company incorporated May 23, 1903 in Illinois; purchased by deed on September 1, 1909 by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern
  • Herrin and Johnson City Railway Company incorporated September 22, 1905 under general laws of Illinois; all stock was owned by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern who constructed the line (3.86 miles) by July 1, 1907 formally purchased on September 1, 1909
  • Vidalia and Lake Concordia Railroad and Steamship Transportation Company, incorporated in Louisiana on May 12, 1876; built a narrow gauge road from Vidalia to Concordia, Louisiana; name changed on Febmary 11, 1881 to Vidalia and Western Railroad Company; purchased on June 1, 1881 by the Natchez, Red River and Texas Railroad Company
  • Natchez, Red River and Texas Railroad Company incorporated in Louisiana on January 27, 1881; sold on March 23, 1904 to Natchez and Western Railway Company
  • Natchez and Western Railway Company incorporated by charter dated January 5, 1904; the St. Louis. Iron Mountain and Southern acquired its stock in 1905 and operated it as a subsidiary until formally purchasing it on September 1, 1909
  • New Orleans and Northwestern Railway Company incorporated by special act of the legislature of the State of Mississippi on March 14, 1884; consolidated with the New Orleans, Natchez and Fort Scott Railway Co. on December 27, 1887
  • New Orleans, Natchez and Fort Scott Railway Company incorporated under general laws of Louisiana on August 10, 1886; consolidated December 27,1887 with the New Orleans and Northwestern Railway Company
  • New Orleans and Northwestern Railway Company (of 1887) a consolidation of two previous railroad companies-, reorganized in 1902 when its stock was acquired by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, formally purchased by deed on September 1, 1909
  • Springfield Southwestern Railway Company incorporated under the general laws of Missouri on Feb 19, 1903, line ran 35.24 miles from Gulf Street in Springfield to Crane, Missouri; conveyed by deed to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on September 1, 1909
  • Wabash Southern Railway Company incorporated in Illinois on March 15, 1905; company organized and its stock owned by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern; line ran 9.44 miles from Illinois Central Railroad crossing at Zeigler to end of track at Benton, Illinois; formally conveyed by deed on September 1, 1909
  • Marion and Harrisburg Railway Company incorporated in Illinois on April 5, 1905; stock owned by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern; formally purchased by deed on March 12, 1913
  • Marion and Johnston City Railway Company incorporated in Illinois on August 7, 1905; organized and capital stock owned by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern; corporate identity disappeared on March 12, 1913 when its property was deeded to the parent company
  • Johnston City Connecting Railway Co. incorporated in Illinois on December 11, 1911; deeded to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on March 12, 1913
  • Coal Belt Electric Railway Company incorporated on May 28, 1901 in Illinois; acquired by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern in December 1904
  • Cairo and Thebes Railroad Company incorporated September 28, 1905 to build a railroad from Cairo to Thebes, Illinois (24.53 miles); road opened December 1, 1910; leased to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern on March 1, 1911 for 99 years; lease assumed by Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917
  • Natchez and Southern Railway Company incorporated in Mississippi on December 17, 1902; operated exclusively as a switching railroad (2.75 miles) with inclines at the Mississippi River controlled from its beginnings by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern through ownership of alI capital stock; ownership assumed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917
  • Union Railway of Memphis chartered on January 20, 1886 in Tennessee as a switching railroad (17.10 miles) at Memphis; controlled from its beginnings by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern through ownership of all capital stock; ownership assumed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917
  • Iron Mountain Railroad Company of Memphis chartered on August 31, 1886 in Tennessee; opened May 1888 and operated from that date under lease to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern; lease was assumed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917.
This is a D&R #8 masquerading as St. Louis Midland #8 for the 1938-1939 movie "Jesse James." For more information read the History of the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad.
This is a D&R #8 masquerading as St. Louis Midland #8 for the 1938-1939 movie "Jesse James." For more information read the History of the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad.

LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER OF THE
ST. LOUIS AND IRON MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CO.
AS SHOWN IN THE 1859 ANNUAL REPORT

 

No.
Name
Builder
Original Cost
Weight
Date
1
CarondeletPalm$ 9,300.0022.5Jul. 1856
2
PotosiPalm$11,000.0022.5Oct. 1856
3
St. LouisPalm$11,000.0022.5Nov. 1856
4
CometPalm$ 7,300.0013.5Jun. 1857
5
Mineral PointPalm$ 9,850.0020Dec. 1857
6
St. FrancisFairbanks$ 9,000.0023Feb. 1858
7
DeSotoFairbanks$ 9,000.0023Mar. 1858
8
Col. ZeiglerFairbanks$ 9,000.0023Mar. 1858
9
MeramecFairbanks$ 9,000.0023Apr. 1858
10
Black ForestPalm$ 9,850.0020Feb. 1858
11
OzarkFairbanks$ 8,500.0022May 1856
12
Black MingoPalm$ 9,850.0020May 1858
13
Iron MountainPalm$10,350.0026Jun. 1858
14
Pilot KnobPalm$10,350.0026Dec. 1858
15
ArkansasFairbanks$ 8,500.0022Jul. 1858
16
MemphisFairbanks$ 9,000.0023Jul. 1858
Iron Mountain Route Timetable January, 1874
Missouri Pacific Historical Society
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St. Louis, MO 63123
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