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FARMINGTON TROLLEY MAKES LAST RUN
By Howard Robertson

When the St. Francois County Railroad Company announced some time ago that it would soon disband the old electric trolleys, a request from the St. Louis Railroad Enthusiasts Club to charter one of the old trolley cars for a final run was received. The officials obliged and last Sunday, November 9, six of those rail fans were on hand together with a few local fans and the memorable runs were made. Those from St. Louis were W. A. Richter, Raymond Gehl, Robert Staely, Willis Goldschmidt, Ed Applegate and William Diesing. Those locally were Fred Brooks of Flat River, J. O. Swink, Dr. L. M. Stanfield, Frank Zimmer, Mayor Morris of Farmington and Howard Robertson of Bonne Terre.

With a toot, toot of the tuneful whistle of trolley Number 54, we pulled away from the Farmington station at 10:45 a.m., headed north toward Hurryville, with Jesse Haynes at the throttle and Emmett Welch, conductor. Most all the fans had their cameras so the car stopped wherever it was thought a good picture could be taken. Once the car was stopped while some gathered persimmons and again to gather bittersweet. Arriving back at Farmington at noon, we had lunch and then made the run to Delassus, stopping off at State Hospital No. 4 on the return trip. We were then taken over all the tracks in Farmington. It was then decided to make another complete trip of the entire route. Some rode on the front of the trolley (the cow catcher); turns about were taken in blowing the whistle and ringing the bell. Of all miles we traveled, only one casualty occurred. On our last run to Hurryville, we were going down grade at a fair speed when two chickens were noticed on the tracks. The writer was at the whistle cord and Motorman Haynes applied the brakes but in spite of all we ran over a big fine red rooster. We were greeted by the residents all along the line, wondering, no doubt, what the occasion was for the trolley to be running on Sunday. The citizens of Farmington turned out in goodly numbers to witness the final run of old 54. At 4:30 p.m. we pulled into the Farmington station, thus ending the final run of the electric street car of Farmington.

Dismantling of the overhead power lines along the line will start this week. Old trolleys Number 50 and 54 will be sold or junked in the near future.

The electric line was built in 1903, financed by a group of local citizens and was operated by them until 1910 when it was sold to the M.R. & B.T. railroad. In 1926 they petitioned the P.S.C. to cease operations since they were operating at such a loss but the petition was turned down so they cancelled the bonded indebtedness of $250,000.00 and gave it to a group of Farmington citizens who refinanced it by selling 250 shares of stock for $50,000.00. Charles Giessing was appointed General Manager and served in that capacity till October 1946. During this time many improvements were made and equipment bought. It was reorganized and named the St. Francois County Railroad Company. Immediately thereafter, service to Flat River was discontinued and the rails taken up. Passenger service to Delassus was discontinued in 1930. The old passenger cars Number 102 and 103 were junked and later the old freight locomotive Number 101 and trolley Number 100 were also junked. They operated with trolley cars Number 50 and 54 until early this year when they purchased their first diesel.

J. O. Swink was appointed General Manager in October 1946 and under his able leadership plans are being accomplished in making it a real up to date line. The first Diesel (No. 6) was purchased this spring from the Muncie & Western lines at a cost of $30,000.00 and their second Diesel (No. 2) was purchased just a few weeks ago from the War Surplus Administration in California at a cost of $21,500.00 They expect to be able to get enough out of the old electric cars, cables, wire, poles, etc. to pay for the last Diesel. Plans also call for a complete working over of the road bed, lots of new rail and numerous other improvements.

Honorable mention is in order here of several of the employees who have served the line so faithfully for many years. Herman Hoganmiller, station agent since 1920; W. E. Hogenmiller, auditor, since 1927; Ferd McClintock, master mechanic since 1918; Jesse Haynes, motorman, forty-two years service except his service in World War I; Emmett Welch, conductor, forty years service, except during his service in World War I; and Henry Rickus, section foreman, forty-one years service. Many are the stories told by these good men of their hardships in the early days of the electric line. With its passing, its memories will live dear in the hearts of many St. Francois Countians.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Nov. 14, 1947.

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