National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
West Barretts Tunnel
1851-53 & 1929
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019
1. West Barretts Tunnel Marker
Inscription.
West Barretts Tunnel. 1851-53 and 1929. The first railroad tunnels west of the Mississippi River are located at Barretts, MO, which is the name for the station where we are located. They were built between 1851-53 by the Pacific Railroad of Missouri, renamed the Missouri Pacific in 1876. They carried a single broad gauge track, with 5' 6" between the rails. They were designed by the line's chief engineer, James P. Kirkwood, for whom the nearby town of Kirkwood, MO is named. The tracks were changed to standard gauge (4' 8 ½") in 1869. This tunnel was originally 450' long, but was shortened to its current 410' in 1929. The single track tunnels were an operating bottleneck in what became a double track railroad, and became intolerable during world war two. In 1944 the tunnels were bypassed by two main line tracks placed in a cut about 100' to the South. The land with the tunnels was then surplus to the line's needs, and the museum leased this property for $1 a year until it was later donated. The tunnels were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The first railroad tunnels west of the Mississippi River are located at Barretts, MO, which is the name for the station where we are located. They were built between 1851-53 by the Pacific Railroad of Missouri, renamed the Missouri Pacific in 1876. They carried a single broad gauge track, with 5' 6" between the rails. They were designed by the line's chief engineer, James P. Kirkwood, for whom the nearby town of Kirkwood, MO is named. The tracks were changed to standard gauge (4' 8 ½") in 1869. This tunnel was originally 450' long, but was shortened to its current 410' in 1929. The single track tunnels were an operating bottleneck in what became a double track railroad, and became intolerable during WW II. In 1944 the tunnels were bypassed by two main line tracks placed in a cut about 100' to the South. The land with the tunnels was then surplus to the line's needs, and the museum leased this property for $1 a year until it was later donated. The tunnels were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Erected by Museum of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.
Location. 38° 34.218′ N, 90° 27.849′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood
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, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. Marker can be reached from Barrett Station Road east of Old Dougherty Ferry Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3015 Barrett Station Road, Saint Louis MO 63122, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. #39 "Marmora" (a few steps from this marker); #311 (within shouting distance of this marker); #274 (within shouting distance of this marker); #4700 (within shouting distance of this marker); The "Katy Flyer" (within shouting distance of this marker); #1365 (within shouting distance of this marker); #4916 (within shouting distance of this marker); MKT #1 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2019
2. West Barretts Tunnel Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 304 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
