ST. JOSEPH & LEXINGTON BRANCH.
76.40 Miles Long.
Incorporated in Missouri, January 8th, 1868, as the St. Louis & St. Joseph Railroad Co..
Incorporated in Missouri March 19th, 1874, as the St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad Co..
Incorporated in Missouri as the St. Joseph St. Louis & Santa Fe Railroad Company,
August 8th, 1887.
Incorporated in Missouri August 8th, 1887 as the St. Joseph & Santa Fe Railroad Company Name Changed January 30th, 1888 to St. Joseph, St. Louis & Santa Fe Railway Company. Sold June 1st, 1900 to the A.T.&S.F. Ry. Company.
This line was built under the original charter name - St. Louis & St. Joseph Railroad Company by a local company, mostly St. Joseph & St. Louis men and capital. It soon went into bankruptcy with a Mr. Sheridan as receiver. Mr. Arthur B. Gower was Superintendent of Construction. Mr. A. M. Whiting was Chief Engineer.
Mr. John Baden had the contract for laying all of the track. Construction commenced early in 1869. Finished in 1870 and line opened that year. Mr. Gower as Superintendent. The Stations and town of Gower were named after him.
On June 1st, 1874, the Wabash leased it. It was then called the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern, afterwards changed to "The Wabash", St . Louis & Pacific Railway Company" On June 28th, 1884 the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific went into the hands of receivers and was then operated by them. Until June 30th, 1886, on which date it was dropped from the Wabash System. Winslow Judson, as President of the St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad Company operated it from June 30th, 1886 to August 8th, 1887 when it was sold to the St. Joseph & St. Louis & Santa Fe Ry. Company, then the Santa Fe took charge and commenced to operate it. Sold to the A.T.&S.F. Ry. June 1st. 1900. Mr. F. S. Harris Superintendent and operated it under Mr. Winslow Judson. The line crossed the main line of the Wabash at Lexington Junction and terminated on the left bank of the Missouri River opposite the town of Lexington where it connected with a ferry boat.
The Grand Island Operated their trains over the line from St. Joseph to Gower, a distance of twenty miles from August 1st, 1898 (Contract dated August 1st, 1898) See Secretary's No. 12981. They discontinued using the Santa Fe tracks, August 31st, 1914. The Chicago & Great Western operated their trains over the line St. Joseph to Bee Creek Jct, a distance of 7.90 miles. They began to operated, effective December 31st, 1890.
Established 04/22/96-Updated 03/10/2009
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