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| Name | Meramec Highlands Tunnel |
| Built By | St. Louis-San Francisco Railway |
| Currently Owned By | City of Kirkwood |
| Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 475 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Bored Tunnel (Brick Lined) |
| Portal Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1883 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned and Partially Filled |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/18/2016 |
In 1851, the Pacific Railroad of Missouri (PRM) began construction of a railroad line extending from St. Louis, Missouri to Pacific, Missouri. This would be completed in 1853. Development of railroads was often slow during the 1850s, dependent on financing. In 1856, the same railroad continued building southwest to Sullivan, which would be completed in 1858. The railroad continued building southwest in 1859, reaching Cuba, Missouri by the end of 1859 and Rolla, Missouri in 1860. Construction came to a halt during the Civil War, and the Pacific to Rolla line of the Pacific Railroad of Missouri changed its name to the Southwest Pacific Railroad, and continued building to Arlington, Missouri. Due to financial troubles, the railroad was acquired by the State of Missouri in 1867. In 1868, the railroad would be deeded to the South Pacific Railroad, who continued to build southwest to Huban, Missouri. By 1870, the railroad would reach Pierce City, Missouri. The railroad became a part of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1870, and became part of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway (Frisco) in 1876. The Frisco used Missouri Pacific Railroad trackage between St. Louis and Pacific. The Frisco constructed a line to Valley Park in 1882, and completed the line to St. Louis in 1883. Portions of the line required deep cuts, large fills and tunnels, due to the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri. The Frisco had developed an extensive network of railroad lines in the
south central United States. This line provided a critical connection
for the Frisco, allowing traffic from St. Louis to head straight south
along the Mississippi River. The Frisco would build and acquire a
respectable railroad network in the
south central United States, with significant connections through
Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The Frisco was merged
into the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) in 1980. BN merged with the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996 to form BNSF Railway.
BNSF currently operates the Cuba Subdivision between St. Louis and Springfield. The route continues to serve as a mainline for BNSF.
Located behind Barberry Lane in Kirkwood, this abandoned tunnel is hidden deep in the woods. The tunnel was constructed in 1883, as the railroad constructed a line at this location. The tunnel is 475 feet long, utilizes cut stone portals and a brick lining. A tunnel was required at this location due to the Meramec Highlands, a large ridge north of the Meramec River. Numerous repairs have been made to the ceiling of the bridge, including using concrete to make spot repairs. In the early 20th Century, the tunnel presented the railroad with a bottleneck, limiting traffic to one track and causing great discomfort for passengers and crews. In 1922, the Frisco began a campaign to reconstruct their line into St. Louis, bypassing this tunnel in the process. The tracks were removed from the tunnel in 1929, and the tunnel has been abandoned since. In the early 2000s, the ends of the tunnel were partially sealed, and the tunnel mostly filled in. Overall, the tunnel appears to be in fair to poor condition, with some significant deterioration to the ceiling. The author has ranked the tunnel as being moderately significant, due to the age and history of the tunnel. During a visit in June 2016, the tunnel was accessed via a woodchip path from Barberry Lane, which was reportedly public. It is unknown if the tunnel is still accessible.
Citations
| Build date | Date stamp |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |