St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway was a historic railroad that operated in Missouri
, and Arkansas
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It ran from St. Louis, Missouri
, to Texarkana, Arkansas
, as well as to southeast Missouri. The line was initially established to deliver iron ore from Iron Mountain, Missouri
to St. Louis. The company was frequently referred to as the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern (StLIM&S) or shortened to simply the Iron Mountain Railway.
The railroad was robbed twice, once by the James-Younger Gang
on January 31, 1874, at Gad's Hill, Missouri
, and once by the Dalton Gang
on November 3, 1893, at Olyphant, Arkansas.
In 1883 the StLIM&S was acquired by Jay Gould
, becoming part of a 9547 miles (15,364.4 km) system. On May 12, 1917, it was formally merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad
, which in turn was merged into the Union Pacific Railroad
in 1982.
, and the railroad is reported to have paid for the child's education.
. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway operates a heritage railroad in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It ran from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, to Texarkana, Arkansas
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
, as well as to southeast Missouri. The line was initially established to deliver iron ore from Iron Mountain, Missouri
Iron Mountain, Missouri
Iron Mountain is an unincorporated community in southwestern St. Francois County, Missouri. It is located about six miles south of Bismarck. The community was founded in 1836 as a mining site and it was named for nearby Iron Mountain, once thought to be made completely of iron ore.The railroad...
to St. Louis. The company was frequently referred to as the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern (StLIM&S) or shortened to simply the Iron Mountain Railway.
The railroad was robbed twice, once by the James-Younger Gang
James-Younger gang
The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...
on January 31, 1874, at Gad's Hill, Missouri
Gad's Hill, Missouri
Gad's Hill is an unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri is located between two towns in Missouri — Des Arc and Piedmont. Named for the country home of Charles Dickens, it was established in 1872 by George W. Creath....
, and once by the Dalton Gang
Dalton Gang
The Dalton Gang, also known as The Dalton Brothers, was a family of both lawmen and outlaws in the American Old West during 1890-1892. They specialized in bank and train robberies. They were related to the Younger brothers, who rode with Jesse James, though they acted later and independently of...
on November 3, 1893, at Olyphant, Arkansas.
In 1883 the StLIM&S was acquired by Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
, becoming part of a 9547 miles (15,364.4 km) system. On May 12, 1917, it was formally merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
, which in turn was merged into the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
in 1982.
Folklore
The railroad is famous for giving its name to the Iron Mountain BabyIron Mountain Baby
Iron Mountain Baby refers both to a folksong and the subject of that song, William Moses Gould Helms.On August 14, 1902, William Helms , a 72-year old farmer and civil war veteran, was walking along the St...
, and the railroad is reported to have paid for the child's education.
Heritage railroad
The name has been resurrected by a modern short line railroad based in Jackson, MissouriJackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
. The St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway operates a heritage railroad in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
.