...being built to preserve the continuity of the line.
Track from Tracy Junction to Phenix was also torn up in 1936. Track from Olathe to Stanley and from
Ash Grove to Phenix remained as branches for several years and was torn up about 1941 or 1942. A
short spur remains at the old Junction at Ash Grove depot, extending across the street from the
depot to a grain elevator.
Thus ends to date the story of the "Leaky Roof". Old railroads, like old soldiers, they say never
die- they just fade away. But the wraiths of the "Leaky Roof" are still very much in evidence. If one
drives along Missouri State Highway 35 between Harrisonville and Clinton he can see yet the
brush-grown embankments and cuts overgrown with sprouts and small trees. It looks very real--you
almost think you will see a little 4-4-0 nose out of a cut with a string of wooden cars clattering behind.
And it is the same along Missouri Highway 13 south of Osceola, at old Tracy Junction where the
Hi-Line tracks swing southeast toward Gerster and the highway continues alongside the fill that once
was the redoubtable Leaky Roof, and so along past Collins and Dunnegan and Fair Play and clear to
Ash Grove you can visit with a friendly ghost of days gone by.
The name of the Leaky Roof still clings to the existing Hi-Line, and the diesels have come and the
glamor that was steam is gone. It is to be hope that none of the kindly past will soon be
forgotten.
ENGINE ROSTER OF THE KCC&S RAILWAY
Builder Year Road Number Builder's No. Type
Manchester 1882 75 1204 4-4-0
" " 76 1205 "
" " 77 1206 "
" " 78 1207 "
" " 79 1208 "
" " 80 1209 "
" " 81 1210 "
" " 82 1211 "
" " 83 1212 "
" " 84 1213 "
" " 85 1214 "
" " 86 1215 "
(Total, 12 engines.)
These road numbers were the last ones these engines carried. Engines were built with a diamond
stack and were later changed to a straight stack with an extended firebox. No. 80 was scrapped
July 17, 1916 and 81 on December 31, 1924. Others were scrapped at unknown dates. Delivery dates
of some were as late as 1884.
Manchester engines all had 13-spoke driving wheels and nine spokes on spoked pilot wheels.
Little if anything else known about these engines because of a fire which destroyed many FRISCO
records some years ago. No pictures of these engines are known to be available.
The End
(Taken from the November, 1953 issue of "Sparks"; Volume #1/Issue #10):
"THE CALL BOARD"---
The Union Pacific #6201, a 2-8-0, was seen recently in transfer service in Kansas City. Although no
positive information has been obtained it has been taken for granted that this is ex-201 having
6000 added to the number because of recent diesel purchases.
As you all know, Rock Island #9, a 4-6-0, went through Topeka dead in a train recently. It was bound
for Herington to be stored there. This engine is ex-Warren & Ouachita Valley #1. The Rock Island
bought it a few years ago and used it as #801 at the Chicago Railroad Fair. It is now #9 and has
several old-time cars with it also.
