PLEASANT HILL, MO., TO DESOTO JCT. KAN. (NOW CORLESS)
44.89 Miles Long
This line was built in 1870-71, Pleasant Hill, Missouri to Lawrence,
Kansas a distance of 61.59 miles.
First survey started November 23rd, 1865.
First chartered in Kansas as the St. Louis, Lawrence & Denver Railroad
Company, July 20th, 1865. Name changed February 26th, 1874 to St. Louis,
Lawrence & Western Railroad Company. Changed again and a new charter
issued in Kansas July 20th, 1865, St. Louis, Lawrence & Denver Railroad
Company. Name changed again February 26th, 1874. Sold under foreclosure
February 23rd, 1877.
On October 18th, 1877 the road between Lawrence and De Soto Junction,
Kansas (now Corliss) was acquired by the K.C.T. & W. RR. Co., and between De
Soto Jct.., and Pleasant Hill, Missouri, by the P.H. & D. S. RR. Co. This line was
built in 1870-1. Very little information can be obtained relative to its early
histroy as it was not built by the Santa Fe. It was purchased by the Santa Fe in
1874. They sold the line, De Soto Junction to Pleasant Hill, Missouri, October
15th, 1884, to the Frisco. They pulled up the track De Soto Junction to Olathe,
Kansas and left that part of the track down, Olathe to Raymore, where they join
the Clinton line. (Raymore to Pleasant Hill track pulled up).
The Missouri Pacific operated the line when first built in 1871, Pleasant
Hill to Lawrence. Mr. E. Q. Cox was the Superintendent, headquarters,
Lawrence, Kansas.
The Santa Fe connemced using the line February 23rd, 1877. They closed
it May 7th, 1877. Opened it up again September 1st, 1877. January 1st, 1884, line
turned over to S. K. Ry. And run under their direction until sold; viz., October
15th, 1884.
Page 63 Meade's Manual transcribed in altered form for the web by Russell Crump