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Don's Rail Photos
Kansas City, Clay County, & St. Joseph Ry.
The "Excelsior Springs Route" was built quite late, in 1913, and, at 79 miles, was the largest of the Kansas City systems. The line from Kansas City to Excelsior Springs(28 miles) was opened on January 13, 1913, and the line to St. Joseph (51 miles) was opened on May 5, 1913. The line was built to high standards and used 1200 volt power. Equipment consisted of sixteen passenger cars, five freight cars, and one service car. Service was hourly on the St. Joseph line, and was relatively profitable until 1929. The depression hit hard, and the line entered receivership in 1930. Abandonment came on March 10, 1933. This was a case of the owners liquidating early to get the most possible returns. If the line could have held out a year or two, it probably would have survived until after World War II.
The passenger cars were typical Cincinnati Car "submarine" type.
20 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912, #1540. It was rebuilt as 44.
24 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912, #1540. It was sold as a farm shed in 1934 and was sold to David Short in 1992. It was planned to short in Missouri but that did not work. It was donated to Seashore Trolley Museum instead.
26 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912, #1540.
30 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912, #1545.
41 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912, #1545.
43 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912, #1545.
45 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in May 1912. It was apparently rebuilt from another car.
50 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in June 1912, #1550.
52 was built by Cincinnati Car Co. The body was sold as a lunch car at Crown Center, Kansas City, MO, and closed out in 2015.
54 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in 1913, #1555. It was retired in 1933 and the body was acquired in 1991 by a rail hobby group named Missouri Short Line.
62 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in January 1913, #1955. It was sold to Paul Wyatt in 1934 and moved to Belton, MO. It became Crimson Diner and apparently scrapped in 1960.
63 was built by Cincinnati Car Co in January 1913, #1955.
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