COLUMBIA, Mo. — Funding is secured for municipally owned Columbia Terminal to upgrade track following the securement of a $3.2 million federal grant, KOMU-TV reports. The city will also contribute $800,000 to bring the project total up to $4 million.
“We’re replacing some of the track into a heavier grade track that can carry heavier loads,” says city utilities spokesman Matt Nestor. “And we’re replacing some deteriorating railroad ties and the ground support around those.”
The city believes that the project will create up to 30 jobs and generate $23 million in private investments.
“This will not only allow us to retain and build upon the existing customers,” Columbia Transportation Board Chairman John Wilke says. “There’s already demonstrations that quite a few other opportunities will come forward to expand the use of the railroad.”
The city acquired the 23-mile line in 1987 from Norfolk Southern forming the Columbia Terminal, also known at the COLT. It stretches from a connection with the NS main line at Centralia south to Columbia. The line gained fame in the 1960s under Norfolk & Western for its operation of a mixed train until 1969. Prior to 1964 it was under Wabash ownership.
Several years ago, they built a bridge over US 63, which is a divided highway at that location, and it replaced an at-grade crossing! Thankfully, I never encountered a train at 65 m.p.h.
It was around 2010 the overpass was built. Actually, the ground level crossing of US-63 was supposed to be temporary until a bridge could be built, but something happened which delayed the construction, so the rail crossing stayed in place way longer than planned.
The MKT ended just west of UM at Broadway Street. The depot is still there and is a restaurant now.
COLT cut the former Wabash branch line at Rogers Street when it appears the lumber yard just north of the UM campus stopped being a customer. Judging by the concrete they poured in place of the tracks on Rogers, I would say that is not coming back.
The COLT was also home to the short-lived Columbia Star Dinner Train. The Wabash/Norfolk & Western branch line operation was featured in the January 1966 Model Railroader. Katy also served Columbia from the south.