Missouri Pacific History

Missouri Pacific History. . , On July 4, 1851, at St Louis, Missouri, ground breaking for the Pacific Railroad marked the beginning of this historic railway. The first section of track was completed in 1852. In 1872, the company was reorganized as the Missouri Pacific Railway and advertised as the first railroad west of the Mississippi River. The Missouri Pacific soon came under control of New York financier Jay Gould, who developed a rail system extending through several states, including Nebraska. The company became a major hauler of grain, coal, ore, autos and other dry goods. At its peak, the Missouri Pacific, or "MoPac," operated more than 11,000 miles of track in 11 states., Missouri Pacific construction in Nebraska included a main line from Atchison, Kansas, to Omaha, the original route completed in 1882. A branch line from Union, Neb, to Lincoln was completed in 1886. Freight trains then operated over the branch for about 102 years, connecting with main line trains at Union., The Missouri Pacific's passenger train service was symbolized by its Eagle streamliners, starting with one inaugurated between St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha in 1940. It later became known as the Missouri River Eagle. Another distinctive operation was the "Eaglet," a streamlined rail car that made two round trips daily over the branch between Lincoln and Union from 1942 to July 1954, when it was replaced by a bus. The Missouri River Eagle itself was discontinued north of Kansas City in 1965., On December 22, 1982, the Missouri Pacific merged with the Union Pacific and Western Pacific railroad companies to create the Union Pacific System. Flooding ended MoPac freight service between Lincoln and Union in 1984, although limited operations east to Elmwood continued until August 1986 The right of way from west of Weeping Water was later sold for development as the 25-mile long MoPac East recreational trail. Today, this trail has made the MoPac name more familiar to Lincoln residents than when trains operated over the route. , -Information provided by Michael M. Bartels., [Photo captions, clockwise from top right, read] , . The steam train puffing out smoke near Harrison Street in Omaha., . Missouri Pacific 7001, "the Route of the Eagles" diesel passenger service at Jefferson City, Missouri on June 6, 1948., . The MOPAC days are gone, as the old tracks are torn up in Lincoln., . Ticket books showing The Eagles route, including Lincoln, NE., . A Union Pacific freight train stops traffic as it crosses 27th Street while delivering cars on the former Mo[P]ac right-of-way on August 7, 1995, Background photo: Lincoln's old right-of-way