Freeburg Tunnel Explained

Freeburg Tunnel
Startwork:1901
Opened:1903
Closed:1980
System:Formerly the Rock Island railroad
Notrack:Single
Location:Beneath the city of Freeburg, Missouri[1]
Length:700feet[2]
Coordinates:38.3169°N -91.9233°W

The Freeburg Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Missouri. Construction on what was then the St. Louis, Kansas City and Colorado Railroad began in 1901.[3] [4] [5] [6] It was completed in 1903 by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, and abandoned in 1980. The tunnel is one of four on the Kansas City–St. Louis Missouri line.

On June 7, 1917, westbound Rock Island passenger train number 23 collided head-on with a freight train at the tunnel, killing the engineer of No. 23, and injuring several others.[7] [8]

In 1963 the floor of the tunnel was lowered by 8inchesto10inchesin (toin) to allow it to accommodate autoracks.[9] [10] This work was completed in early July 1963.[11]

The tunnel is owned by Ameren, who was working in 2016 with the State of Missouri to convert the line to a rail trail connected on the west end to Rock Island Trail State Park.[12] [13] [14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Earngey, Bill. Missouri Roadsides; the traveler's companion. Google Books. e-book. 94. University of Missouri Press. Columbia and London. 1995. 0-8262-1021-X.
  2. (untitled). The Railway Gazette. Google Books. 119. 406. 1963.
  3. News: St. L., K. C. And Col. R. R.. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. December 27, 1901. 8. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: About the new railroad. Iberia Impetus. Henry County Democrat. Clinton, MO. June 28, 1901. 4. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Work on the St. Louis Line. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. July 9, 1901. 3. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: The St. Louis Line Extension. Muskogee Evening News. Muskogee, OK. June 12, 1901. 4. Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Engineer Is Killed and 18 Injured in Freeburg Mo., Wreck. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. June 8, 1917. 5. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: One killed and two hurt in train wreck. Associated Press. The Springfield News-Leader. Springfield, MO. June 8, 1917. 5. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Rail Tunnels Enlarged for Automobile Shipping. The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, MO. April 30, 1963. 13. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: To Enlarge Argyle, Freeburg Tunnels on Rock Island Line. The Bland Courier. Bland, MO. May 2, 1963. 4. Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Enlargement of three tunnels on Rock Island Line completed. Gerald Journal. Gerald, MO. July 12, 1963. 1. Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Train Tunnel Under Freeburg, Missouri. Unrestricted Travel. December 26, 2016. June 1, 2020.
  13. Web site: Stretch of old Missouri rail line to be transferred to state for Rock Island bike trail. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Leah. Thorsen. December 22, 2016. June 1, 2020.
  14. Web site: Rock Island Trail Gets Option To Raise Money, But No State Funds. The overgrown rail line and tunnel under U.S. 63 in Freeburg is part of the Rock Island Trail.... St. Louis Public Radio. Jonathan. Ahl. June 9, 2019. June 1, 2020.

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