Smithville??

[Teegate]

All,

Oji recommended this site to someone he knows or met, and this man has a question for us.


On the north side of the rail trail just to the west of
Smithville-Jacksonville road there is a strange concrete structure. It
looks somewhat like a viaduct, but ends before the deepest part of the
gulley ahead. It appears similar to a flume but lacks a solid bottom, a
water source, and a reason for being.
Is it a remnant of the bicycle railroad? If so, what happened to the
rest of the structure?


Photo's he supplied.

 

[Jerseyman]

Guy:

I think I answered this question for someone almost a year ago, but I cannot recall who first sent me the inquiry. In any case, the structure is a coal trestle for the Smithville factory complex. The locomotive switched the coal hopper cars on to the trestle. When the bottom hatches on the cars were opened, the coal dropped into waiting wagons or, later, trucks parked under the trestle.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[Teegate]

Thanks Jerseyman. I told the man I bet you had the answer and as I expected you did.