Springfield, MO: Full Gasometer and Underground Storage Caves

Underground Storage: (Satellite)

Richard Crabtree -> BNSF Springfield Division

Richard's comment:

This is why I love researching history. I have never seen this before it was really like stepping back in time. It is 1911 and The Woodruff Building on St Louis Street in Springfield Mo just opened. This is the view west from the building. I would click on options and download to see it better.
On the Right just pass the Cook with Gas tank is the Frisco Station (gone) - to the left of that we see Frisco Frieght Depot (gone) - and then to the left again the Missouri Pacific Station (still there) - Behind all of that we see the South Yards and Shops - I have only seen postcards of these buildings, so I was quite happy to find this. I will try to chop up the picture and post a few of the sections in the comments
Photo - private collectionPhoto - private collection — at Frisco Depot.

Richard considers the constant pressure tank to be just a landmark. But I consider it significant because it is the first time I remember seeing one full. So I'm saving this for when I get around to writing an article on coal/manufactured gas. He included three higher-resolution pictures as comments to the above posting.

"Frisco Station - before the 1920's remodel - now gone"

Frisco Freight Depot (gone) & MoPac Station (still there)

Note the wooden coaling tower in the middle of the picture.

Frisco South Shop and Yards - Yard remains buildings gone

Facebook Resolution

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Underground Storage

Frank Keller Photography posted
An interesting BNSF operation at Springfield, MO where they switch various cold storage cars in these Limestone caves. 9.01.21
Roger Bartelt: There are huge fans that continues change the air from atop. I wondered that the first time I was in it. So I asked. Cause while you are checking in at the many different warehouses underground you have to turn your truck off. Once you get a dock door u unhook your trailer. then you go back out to the staging area n wait till you get called for your empty trailer.

Joe Kcjones: Picked up loads at several locations. Americold in KC, Kansas was my favorite. Crazy thing was that they were still blasting deep in the mine. You’re sitting in your truck and the ground would shake. Too bad they’re closed now.

Roger Bartelt commented on the above post
Oh the loads of cheese I hauled in there for kraft twice a week from Wausau Wis for two years. Then came back out n loaded pepsi loads headed back to wisc n northern Illinois. Enjoyed going in the caves in Springfield n north of Joplin Mo n a few others near Kansas City.
[I noticed Kraft Foods Distribution Center on the satellite map.]

Jonah Hemingway posted
BN Whiteface 1915 takes the North Yard Job out of the Caves at the Springfield Underground earlier today [Aug 12, 2024]. This units been seeing a little more service after returning from Phoenix with a freshly paint matched A/C Box. 8/12/24.
[And behind the BN livery is an H1 BNSF livery.]

Street View, May 2019

Leonard Fraijo, Dec 2021, cropped

Photo, Nov 2010

Photo, Nov 2010

Dave Blaze Rail Photography posted

Springfield Underground

This shot is on my calendar for August and is an absolute favorite and figured some of my newer followers might never have seen it. This is what I wrote when originally posted: 

Whenever I take these crazy annual trips I usually have about three goals of 'must have' shots.  Last year's trip focused on street running, and this year I had three rather obscure and diverse operations on my list.  I am pretty happy to have been completely successful with two of them and the third is no longer possible do to a schedule change. 

Anyway here is a different take on 'Trains Where Trains Shouldn't Be' this time in caves instead of on streets!  Ever since learning of this local I just knew I had to see it.  In Springfield, Missouri in the heart of Frisco country a few miles east of town, BNSF drops below the surface of the earth in this most unusual operation.  

In a former limestone mine the caverns have been transformed into 3.2 million square feet of leasable warehouse space with a constant ambient temperature of 62 degrees 100 ft below the surface. Amazingly these caves contain three miles of roads and three miles of rail sidings. BNSF local Y-SPM220 comes out 5 days a week and after switching the above ground yard curls down the steep loop past the runaway track and into the caves.  

Here is one favorite as BNSF 3181 (rebuilt EMD GP50 blt. Mar. 1981 as ATSF 3828) and 2797 (rebuilt EMD GP39-2 blt. Mar. 1975 as ATSF 3643) shove a dozen cars, a mix of hoppers and reefers, into the cavern.  This fascinating place began operation in 1960 when the first underground warehouse opened served by the Frisco and has vastly expanded since then.

Of all the images this may be my favorite as an employee in a helmet seemingly matching the units pops a wheelie on his bike heading down the road beside the train. 

Springfield, Missouri 

Dave Blaze Rail Photography shared