Map submitted by Matt Roberds.
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This line while it hasn't seen a train since around 1981 is still part of Union Pacific and Missouri Central (owned by Ameren Electric). UP owns the track from Leed's Junction to Pleasant Hill, they purchased it as a way around the steep grade in Independence on the old MoPac line but have never done anything with it. (Oddly enough, they bought it from SSW/SP who had purchased the line from RI and also never ran a train on it.) Ameren owns the rest of the line and as part of their settlement with the state of Missouri for their negligence in the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse. (On November 28, 2007, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Ameren Corporation announced a settlement to the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse, which "includes an agreement for Ameren to lease 46 miles of its Rock Island Railroad to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to connect the Katy Trail from the town of Windsor to Pleasant Hill.") The line connects with the existing trail at Windsor and will run to Pleasant Hill and connect with a series of trails to lead into KC. UP will continue to bank their part of the line. The line from Windsor to St. Louis is also banked and only a few miles near St. Louis is in use, although SP did run service to Owensville until the late 90's. About two miles of the trail on the road bed have been completed near Pleasant Hill and Ameren has now agreed to allow the trail to be built on the current road bed instead of beside it as originally agreed. While this track is unlikely to ever again see service, it is still part of the rail infrastructure.
Jim Arndt Chilhowee, MO 6/3/2011
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To read this makes me very upset and extremely disappointed in this state and in ameren. I was hoping they would go with the trail beside the track as this track NEEDS to be restored as a mainline. It has huge history, great sites for tourists and really serves missouri better than UP's line which goes out of service every time it floods. I'm very sad to see they're allowing the trail to be placed on the rail bed and not restoring this line, inexcusable!
John St. Louis, MO 9/28/2011
Actually with the current condition of the roadbed it could not be "restored" without a complete and total rebuilding. Many of the bridges have been taken out or filled, crossing removed, etc. It makes far more sense to allow the trail to be built on the road bed and if/when the road needs to be reopened, it would be that much ahead. Don't take me wrong, I'd love to see the line reopened, I spent much of my childhood chasing, watching, riding the old Rock Trains on this line, but honestly at this time the line is not needed as a rail line. As for the UP, the River Line does flood quite often, but the line from KC to Jefferson City via Sedalia is never affected, is signalled both ways (Amtrak use) and is no where near capcity even when traffic is run both directions. New sidings being added currently will make the line that much better.
Jim Arndt Chilhowee, MO 9/29/2011