So all the talk of finding relics of days long gone has brought up some questions to this younger railroader. There use to be a very large logging operation in Southeast Missouri, about an hour to hour and a half's drive south of my school (in Rolla MO). Most of that area is now state and federal convervation area, so it is open to the public. I've been wanting to go hiking down there for a while. The operation had a large tram way, with 100+ miles of rail at its height around the turn of the century. I've been trying to figure out where the ROW would have been so I can see if I can find some spikes or journal covers or something from the railroad. I have yet to find a map or anything. Does anyone have more information on this operation (or know where to find some), and any general suggestions on finding very old ROW's?

Try the USGS topographical maps. They are often detailed enough to be able to see the old alignments in the elevation lines. Go to a map store and see if they have some OLD USGS topo maps of the area. YOU can also find the USGS maps on line, too at the USGS web site.

Try the local historical society. they often have great archives.

Go look on Frisco.org and search for Sligo and Eastern. That may be what you're looking for.

I was thinking of the Missouri Lumber and Mining company. I couldn't think of the name when I put up the original post as I was walking out the door when I did it. Here's a history of the company. http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/bi ... dustry.htm
Its one of the few websites I could find. It looks like that had some nice little engines. I believe they were served by the Frisco, so thanks. I could never find anything on the Frisco connection other than it existed. That will give me some good things to look at too.

Looks like a 2-6-0T in one of the photos. Kind of a rare wheel arrangement for a tank engine. I wonder if this was a mainline engine made into a Mogul Tank? I seem to recall that a museum out west has, or had, a 2-6-0T. Maybe I'm wrong on that.

Les

You might also check to see if the Missouri Geological Survey (located in Rolla) has LIDAR imagery. If so, and they have the software for you to view it, you can usually locate old railroad grades thru the tree cover with ease. One thing using this modern imagery that you have to remember is that many times logging RR grades have been turned into roads, so you need to have at least something to start with. I am doing a project in western Louisiana, where the 2nd growth timber is 75' tall, and the Lidar, combined with 1930-40 era USGS topo maps and some 1940 air photography have done wonders for tracking these grades.

As far as the 1940 stuff, there often are those old photos at either the geological survey, or your county US Agricultural soil service office.