I am curious why it was named King and not Hardy? Anyone know?I was born in West Plains and grew up for a time and visited Hardy as thats where my Great Grandparents lived. Thanks in advance.
Wish I had an answer for you but I'm not able to find any references to a "King" station for Frisco. Hardy did have a depot for sure - is it possible perhaps a private business bought or rented the depot space after Frisco dropped it and put their name "King" on it? (maybe these guys? http://kingagencyrealestate.com/about_us.html ) Regards, -Mike
Actually I saw it on a timetable somewhere. I think even the BNSF calls it King but I cant find where I saw it. I dont think I ever saw a depot in Hardy but I could be wrong its been a long time since I have been down there.I do remember the Caboose that was at the Library though. Had some railroad artifacts and history.Let me dig a little deeper and Ill post it.Here is another question that has me wondering. What kind of traffic did the Frisco have across this area? I would assume lumber some cattle maybe( when that was a big rail traffic commodity anyway) but what else? Thanks in adavance.
Ok just looked up an old BNSF timetable. Shows King at the location where Hardy should be.Even has the initials KG ( guess old telegraph code?) I do get a kick out of Koshkonong being just Kosh.So the mystery deepens!Havent found a Frisco timetable...yet.
Okay - I think I have some of this figured out... I checked a Frisco 1952 timetable (Eastern Division - Memphis Sub) and saw King listed. It's actually located right between Mammoth Spring and Hardy. Hardy being 8 miles south of King, Mammoth Spring being 8 miles north. Here's an aerial view of "King" today, although there doesn't appear to be much there anymore: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=36.403785,-91.526515&spn=0.002198,0.005284&t=h&z=18 I sure can't find anything about King (not to be mistaken for King, AR in Sevier County) But, I think your original question now has an answer... It would appear that Hardy wasn't named King after all. Not sure what's going on with the BNSF timetable, interesting that an almost vacant spot like King would appear over an existing town (Hardy) Some of this stuff is like archeology, isn't it? -Mike
It is crazy isnt it? I dont know why the BNSF would have it either.Unless its for a siding,but I remember Hardy having a siding back in the day. In my hometowns website ( yes I calim Hardy as my hometown lol) It was named after a railroad worker who was in charge of the engineering and grading of said line. I never could find King before, next time I go there I will have to search a little harder,but red clay roads and my grandmas white car were NOT a good match lol. BTW do you know what commodities were shipped out of this area? Any time frame would work.I have thought about modeling the area in the early 1900's.Or maybe a few Mandarain orange units working out of Thayer.All this makes me want to take a road trip home lol.
Not too sure of anything specific for the area, but freight moving between Memphis and Kansas City (via Hardy) could have pretty much anything. Piggy backs, auto-racks, tanks, general- you name it. You may have better luck with researching the late era Frisco with any online photos you can find of Frisco running thru Thayor or west bounds out of Memphis. If you're planning on doing Hardy specifically, there are online plans of the depot you can match with photos of similar stations to reconstruct a model of the Hardy station. I went through a similar exercise a few years back trying to research the Frisco in my grandmother's small town - their depot was long gone before I was born but eventually I got all the pieces to the puzzle. Some of these small towns are tough to research though.
Yeah I was going to do a 70's era line going to Freelance it sort of.I want Hardy for sure,but with the space I have now I wont have room for Hardy Mammoth and Thayer like I want. So to start off my Frisco I was going to do a LDE of Ash Flat. To all the Frisco fans yes I know Ash Flat didnt have a railroad connection but it does in my little world! I am going to have a few small industries for the locale, I know they have a ready mix plant or two along the route I am going to do.Figured one of those a team track, a implement dealer,and a lumber yard would work and not overwhelm the small area I have to start out with. This will all tie in eventually when I get a place with a large enough basement to have my original plan. If it gets big enough I want to add West lain in the mix but lets not get to crazy yet! I want the fast freight that I do remember seeing piggy backs flying by when I was a kid so I want that for sure with SD 45's in the lead. I had thought about doing an early 1900's layout but thats a pain in the tookus really.I figured the 70's as thats when I grew up and there is such a great selection now of cars and locos from that era. Researching theses small towns are like you say a pain! But Sharpe county has a historical society that has some good information and pictures. Just not enough.I even checked Hardys Library online and it would be better just to go there from the sounds of it.So I am planning on my vacation to be a trip down "Home" for me and my kids.Then I can get a good look again at that area. Going to have to see if I can finagle a few more tracks into Hardy and where my bridge would be if I shot a branch to Ash Flat.
