milage markers

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jay from olivette on 6/5/2007 10:28:15 AM:

why do the mile markers start at mile 39 in st. charles? where's 1 thru 38?

Mike Arnold from O'Fallon on 6/5/2007 11:01:53 AM:

As I understand it, the mile markers are actually railroad mile markers for the line that ran where the trail now is.

biking beginner on 6/5/2007 11:21:54 AM:

Maybe 1 starts 38 miles east of St. Charles, at Machens, which may still be under construction?

jay from olivette on 6/5/2007 12:02:12 PM:

i don't think machens is 38 miles from st. charles.

jay from olivette on 6/5/2007 12:06:27 PM:

As I understand it, the mile markers are actually railroad mile markers for the line that ran where the trail now is.
- posted 6/5/2007 11:01:54 AM by Mike Arnold , O'Fallon

this makes sense. thanks for your answer.

Ray (webmaster) on 6/5/2007 12:13:44 PM:

Mike called it - these are the mile marker numbers that the railroad used.

Machens will actually be something like mile 27, whenever they finally finish the extension. Honestly I'm not sure where mile 0 was - probably somewhere in Illinois, which was presumably the start of the MKT rail line (any railroad buffs out there know about this?).

One interesting side effect of this numbering system, is that your actual mileage may differ slightly from the mile marker mileage when you ride through Sedalia or Rhineland. That's because the Katy Trail route varies from the old rail bed in these two towns, taking you a slightly longer distance than the more direct railroad route. Not enough to make much difference, but something to be aware of if you are wondering why your bike computer mileage suddenly seems to be slightly off.

jay from olivette on 6/5/2007 2:54:33 PM:

thanks for all the replies

Nails on 6/5/2007 9:45:36 PM:

In addition, your mileage may very at Boonville (over the river) and, most significantly, St. Charles (Family Center).

steve k from saint louis, mo on 6/6/2007 10:52:41 AM:

If you look at the old MKT railroad maps, the MKT railroad did indeed go through Machens(MM=27), then they show a sharp turn to the SE and then listed Baden and then the City of St. Louis as stations. So, this route would take the line back over the Missouri River just east of Machens and stops before the Mississippi River. This would seem to place MM=0 in the City of St. Louis. The old railroad bridge across the Missouri is just west of the current Hwy. 67 crossing.

Nails on 6/7/2007 12:46:45 PM:

(I meant vary, not very.)
Anyhow, for one of those old railroad maps:
http://www.katyrailroad.org/map.htm
And a new map of the old line:
http://www.missouri-central.railfan.net/maps.html

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