By Pauline Masson –
City Central, a unique historic hub in Pacific, Missouri (formerly Franklin).
The pavilion above occupies the site of the original Pacific Railroad depot in the newly platted city of Franklin, Missouri. This was the destination of the first railroad excursion west of the Mississippi River on September 19, 1853. The Pacific Railroad, later Union Pacific, pulling two passenger cars and three flatbed cars with passengers sitting on plank seats visited for several hours before returning to St. Louis. Now the covered pavilion on this spot hosts rail enthusiasts who can witness more than forty trains a day that pass through on the Union Pacific and BNSF railroad lines.
The pavilion is equipped with an Automatic Train Control Signal (ATCS) display that enables visitors in the pavilion to see the location of trains approaching or departing Pacific.
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“You can actually see pretty far in three directions when there is a train on the tacks,” said Jim Schwinkendorf, retired BNSF vice president and steam train manager, who persuaded the Union Pacific to place the display here.
On the display, the track turns red to show that it is occupied by a train. Even Amtrak and the frequent trains of the U.S.Silica Plant on East Osage Street can be seen on the display. When the train is lined up to move onto the Silica siding, the track turns green. When it moves and while it is loading the track turns red to show that it is occupied. The track turns to white when the train leaves.
The unique apparatus feeds into the national (ATCS) computer system that records every train on every set of tracks in the U.S.
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Eye Witness to Arrival of First Train
This is an account, by an unknown author, of the arrival of the first train to arrive in what was then Franklin, Missouri. The name was later changed to Pacific to reflect the new railroad.
Great interest was now taken in the progress of the new railroad. Everyone who had lots to sell or were ready to build on lots they had purchased, were anxious to know how soon the railroad would be coming (completed). The contractors were urging on their work all the summer of 1853. At last it was made known that the road would be completed late in the fall, as far as Franklin (now Pacific). True to this promise the Company had all things in readiness at the appointed time. A train was made up at St. Louis and started in the morning. A free ride was offered to all who wanted to go.
There were but two passenger coaches in the train. The other cars were flat cars, with planks for seats. The locomotives at that time were smaller than they are now. The ties were laid on the ground without ballast or gravel. In wet weather the cars were frequently splashed with mud. The ends of the rails were held together by a “chair,” which was made of iron, and had a flange at each side to receive the end of the rail.
Along the line of this railroad that September morning were groups of men waiting to see the first train of cars. Those who could leave their work took the opportunity to get a free ride. As the iron horse glided onward, and the echo of the whistle resounded among the hills, a feeling of enthusiasm came into the minds of spectators. Every citizen was filled with delight, and stirred with sensations of pride to witness the triumphal march of this first railroad train on its way to Franklin. The people here waited for its arrival. They were impatient.
“So tedious is this day, As is the night before some festival, To an impatient child that has new clothes And wants to wear them.
A feeling of suspense comes over the waiting multitude. The train has been delayed. They know not what has happened. All eyes are turned toward Allenton. The train is coming! The iron horse is plunging along over the new track, and belching forth sparks of fire or clouds of smoke, as if to consume everything in its way.
When it arrives, how grand the scene! Flags are waving from the cars, the engine is decked with wreaths and flags, men are waving their hats and sending up cheer after cheer. Flat cars were good enough for this first ride over the new railroad.
The day is spent in sightseeing. It is a good opportunity to buy lots, and some have taken advantage of it. Evening approaches and the whistle of the engine warns all concerned that they must get ready. The train returns to St. Louis, and after that the cars came to Franklin with regularity. The local accommodation train that now runs to Washington stopped at this place for many years after the road was completed.
Although this mural depicting the arrival of the first train is not located in City Central, it is good to remind visitors that it is located in the shopping plaza at the east end of town. When Chrerie Francois decided to dress up her East Osage Plaza, she chose the arrival of the first train as a memorable subject.
When the artist asked local retired BNSF vice president and steam train expert for guidance on painting the locomotive, Jim Schwinkendorf had one thought.
“What ever you paint, make sure it has a big cow catcher on the front of the engine, because every engine had one,” he said.
The mural occupies a wall between businesses located at 534 and 538 East Osage in the shopping plaza.
When local blacksmith and metal worker Harry Engelhart was asked dress up the Welcome to Pacific sign on West Osage Street that faces motorists who exit I-44 at Viaduct Street, he chose to carve an 1850s steam engine, one passenger coach and three flat bed cars to depict the first train that arrived here that September in 1853.
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This little snippet of history is a tribute to Jim McHugh, who came up with the City Central theme as a promotional campaign to tie the history and modern amenities of Old Town in a series of stories that inform visitors that this is a good place to visit. “You have to tell the story,” McHugh said. McHugh is part owner of the McHugh-Dailey building and founder of the Pacific Partnership a civic organization formed to promote Old Town Pacific.
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