Monday, May 26, 2025

Route 66: Ship It On the Frisco!

When you've lived in St Louis all your life, it's easy to overlook or take for granted our many Route 66 landmarks that are still preserved today. I love the oft-overlooked historical markers, and especially love this little viewing platform you may only notice if you shop at the Shrewsbury Aldi, or are a hardcore Route 66 aficionado.

Medium shot from eye-level showing a wooden walkway with brown railings and green posts. The walkway leads toward a historic steel train bridge featuring riveted construction. The bridge is painted white with the words "Ship It on the Frisco" written on it. The sky is blue with scattered cumulus clouds. The foreground features green foliage and small yellow wildflowers. The composition is well-balanced, with the bridge centered in the upper section of the frame and the walkway and vegetation in the forefront.


An outdoor information panel titled "Historic Shrewsbury, Missouri" describes the "Frisco" Railway Crossing at Historic Route 66. The text details the railway's history, including its incorporation in 1876 and its association with Route 66. A vintage photograph on the panel shows a train on the "Frisco" Railway trestle. The sign also mentions nearby landmarks, such as the Coral Court Motel and Ted Drewes frozen custard. The panel is bordered with a bronze colored frame.

The sign reads:

Historic Shrewsbury, Missouri
"Frisco" Railway Crossing at Historic Route 66 in Shrewsbury, Missouri

The "Frisco" Railway Crossing & Trestle crosses historic Route 66, "The Mother Road", in Shrewsbury, MO. The highway was established on November 11, 1926, and spanned from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. This spot is located 304 miles into the 2,448 mile journey westward.

The deck plate girder was originally built in 1931 by the St Louis-San Francisco Railway  (SLSF), which was incorporated in Missouri on September 7, 1876. On November 21, 1980, SLSF merged into the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, which currently owns the rail line and trestle.

This trestle is unique in that it displays the original slogan in common usage in the United States: "Ship it on the Frisco" and coule be seen by all traveling westward on Route 66. The original finish has been preserved on this trestle.

This location marked a notable crossing positioned between the inn to the West, Coral Court Motel, and the world-famous frozen custard purveyor to the east, Ted Drewes. To the northeast, one may still view the Rigali Center Tower, and to the northeast, the Kenrick Glennon Seminary Tower, the latter of which became the iconic symbol of Shrewsbury throughout the 20th century.


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