The company was founded in 1901. The first trip was on July 24, 1904.
They had purchased a locomotive from E F Wickham Coal & Coke Co in St Louis in 1907.
The initial route was from Farmington to Delasus and a connectiuon with the Iron Mountain RR. Then a branch to the Mississippi River, then a line to Bonne Terre RR at Flat River, then to the Illinois Southern at Esshen. MO.
The depot, seen in the photo was at 125 North Washinton St in Farmington.
It was originally the St. Francois Electric Railroad Company.
In the late 1920's they hauled 75,000 tons of freight per year.
See Survey Report, 29-02 #17555-575 for Farmington, MO.
Railroad History had a short article in issue 122 on page 37.
All above from Wikipedia and the Farmington Survey.
Tom Fetters
