LAST - Depot of the Rock Island RR - Gerald, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 23.831 W 091° 20.214
15S E 645229 N 4251194
The town of Gerald is just west of Union.
Waymark Code: WM140X2
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 03/25/2021
Views: 8
County of depot: Franklin County
Location of depot: US-50 & SW End St., Legion Park, Gerald
Built: 1909
Railroad Affiliation: Rock Island R.R.
Relocated: 1986
Marker Text:
Gerald Depot
The Rock Island Railroad was completed through Gerald in March 1901. In 1902, a depot was built. Destroyed by fire, the present depot was erected to replace it and was operational until March, 1975, when the Rock Island Railroad filed bankruptcy. Scheduled for demolition, the Gerald citizens wished to preserve the historic depot raising funds to move the depot to the present location.
This depot is the only remaining original Rock Island Depot left on the Rock Island line and a part of the City of Gerald heritage.
"Recently my travels took me through Franklin County, Missouri. U.S. 50 through most of Franklin County parallels the old Rock Island St. Louis-Kansas City mainline. The line is still in place, but "rail banked" and owned by the State of Missouri. A portion of the line from the old Rock Island Page Avenue Yard in St. Louis to the town of Union, Missouri is operated by the Central Midland Railway.
"The town of Gerald is just west of Union. Just west of downtown, in a park, sits the old Rock Island Depot. The depot is in excellent shape, maintained by the local Chamber of Commerce. Signage at the depot indicates that it was moved from downtown to the park in the mid 1980s and is the only remaining depot on the line. While not on the old Rock Island anymore, the depot remains just across U.S. 50 from the old mainline.
"As for the Rock Island line, there has been on and off talk the past several years about reopening the entire line. It is unclear if and when this would ever happen." ~ Hicks Car Works [Link Below]