If you have looked at http://www.khs65.com/ recently and seen the pix from last weekend's KSDF Gala 09, you might have noticed a photo of a train tunnel. One of our class train experts has won my prize, knowing that tunnel is at the Museum. I just now happened upon some papers about Kirkwood landmarks and found the following: "The 2 Barretts Railroad Tunnels are notable as the first railroad tunnels west of the Mississippi River. Situated off Barrett Station Road near Kirkwood, they were part of the route laid out for the Pacific Railroad by Chief Engineer James P. Kirkwood to link St. Louis to the West. The first trains ran to Franklin County in 1853, but the line did not reach Kansas City until 1865. The railroad, recently acquired by Union Pacific, has been entirely rebuilt over the years, leaving the tunnels as the only structural reminder of the original line left in MO. The west tunnel is now on the grounds of the National Museum of Transport, while the east one is still owned by the Railroad." Dave Beardsley, who won the prize, says he didn't do "nuthin" there but I've always heard that there was some teen-aged monkey biz there in that tunnel.... but he sure knows his trains! Those of you who grew up in the Greenbriar neighborhood and other places in that neck of our woods, may already know this bit of history, but I don't imagine too many do....you can go here http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/parks/landmarks/Kirkwood-landmark.pdf to read blurbs about a number of Kirkwood properties to include the tunnels article. Enjoy! PS... I knew I didn't imagine that I'd heard about fun things going on in that tunnel, herewith a comment by our classmate Dr. Ron Masters, who frequently states things quite succinctly & this is no exception: "That tunnel was a big draw for kids in the area mostly for exploration of all types.".... SO where was Beardsley during all this exploration??? :-))
PS : 8/3/10 A friend recently gave me the book The Past in our Presence, a wonderful catalogue of historic buildings in St. Louis County. The book has a section about the National Park Service's criteria for buildings and "sites" to be considered worthy of placement on various lists such as the National Register of Historic Places. The Barrett Tunnels are listed there, with a great photo, as a good example ... nice that Kirkwood sites get some recognition!
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Mr. Beardsley has won a darling ceramic lidded box in the image of the Kirkwood Train Station, which he'll receive when we can get together! Thanks Dave for reading and answering!!! The prize is safe in my office!
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