Springfield, Greene County, & MO Railroads

Springfield, Greene County, and Missouri Railroads

Map 1.

The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad [Orange on the map] was the first railroad in Missouri. It was chartered by the Missouri legislature in 1847.

In 1850, the state legislature chartered the Pacific Railroad Company. It would have two lines. One line [Yellow on the map] would run from St. Louis through towns on the Missouri River up to Kansas City. The second railroad line [Red on the map] would run from St. Louis along the “Springfield Road” to Springfield. The second line was also known as the Southwest Branch or the Southwest Pacific.

Two other major railroads in Missouri begun in the 1850s would join St. Charles to the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad [Orange on the map] and the Iron Mountain Railroad [Brown on the map] that would link St. Louis with mining areas.

Click here to go to the 2nd Map