Jackson rail yard's appearance draws complaints

Summer is a tougher time to try to keep up the rail yard on U.S. 61 in Jackson. Over the years, city officials have fielded complaints about the area housing railroad engines, cars, ties and heavy equipment as it becomes overgrown with weeds.

Adjacent property owners say the rail yard is an eyesore. Others find the yard and its contents pique their interest. Rail yard owners say low funds and hot weather hamper upkeep efforts.

Gary Seabaugh owns storage sheds near the rail yard and this year has had problems with rail cars blocking customer access. Seabaugh said before the rail yard was mowed two weeks ago, weeds were chest-high.

Seabaugh approached aldermen Larry Cunningham and Joe Bob Baker for help in June after he said he couldn't get anyone with Friends of the Iron Mountain Railroad, the not-for-profit organization that runs the railroad, to do anything about the problem. Seabaugh said he was told before by the organization that there wasn't any money to mow or to fix the engines so the trains could be moved.

"I had to get mad for them to do it, but it got done," he said.

Seabaugh said he isn't counting on the rail yard being kept up in the future because when he complained before, it was cleaned but then left again to become overgrown.

Cunningham said at one time the city was told the rail cars would be hauled off, but it never happened. He said people associated with the railroad have been uncooperative when approached by the city attorney about keeping up the area. However, he said, the city can't do much because of the way the area is zoned.

"The problem is that it is an industrial zone and they can about do what they want to with it," Cunningham said.

Sam Drusch, a Cape Girardeau lawyer, bought stock in the railroad more than 25 years ago. Drusch said volunteers try to keep up the area, but the organization is low on funds to do so because most of its funding comes from fall and winter tours.

Drusch said the train is not operating now because an inspection of the engine found wheels, or trucks, that were unevenly worn. Since the inspection was performed, Drusch said volunteers have been searching for trucks that will fit the older model train. Some have been found, and Drusch said the organization plans on having the train running again in September.

As for the other cars and equipment and upkeep of the rail yard, Drusch said since the work is done on a volunteer basis, only so much can be done in hot weather.

Drusch also said there has never been such a thing as a pretty rail yard. Drusch said the tourism draw of the train outweighs the look of the yard.

"There are a lot of people who come to Jackson to ride that thing. A lot come because they think it's an interesting attraction. Others don't like it because it's not pretty, and we're sorry," he said. "We try to keep it up, but there will always be some people we can't satisfy."

Some cosmetic reprieve is coming, however, for the train engine and cars that carry groups each year for tours.

Elaine Moonier and other volunteers for the Friends of the Iron Mountain Railroad have raised nearly $6,000 since to repaint the railroad's main engine in a campaign called "Pennies for Paint."

She began visiting the rail yard with her 5-year-old grandson about a year ago. Painting the train engine was his idea, Moonier said.

To raise the money, the volunteers sold souvenirs during the train rides last year and sold baked goods and hosted yard sales at the rail yard.

Moonier said the volunteers hope to raise enough money to paint the train's two coach cars over the winter. Painting on another car, a museum car, began in July, but the weather became too hot to complete the project.

"We want to make it look terrific, so that everyone will be glad to say that the train goes in their town," Moonier said.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent addresses:

Highway 25, Jackson, MO

U.S. 61, Jackson, MO