Prototype…

Derby is a tiny town where the original Illinois Southern Rwy and the MR&BT crossed. Once merged, the M-I maintained a 2-track yard at this important location. The Junction served as an interchange point between the predominantly east-west Ste Genevieve subdivision and the predominately north-south Bonne Terre (BT) subdivision serving the Old Lead Belt.

Layout adaptation…

The layout has a run-around and a 2-track staging yard which serves as the terminus for point-to-point operations. Beyond Derby [off-layout] lies Bismarck, the end of the line for the Ste Genevieve Subdivision.

Typical traffic & shipments…

Derby Jct is used as staging of freight or passenger trains coming onto he layout as well as leaving. The road crew will typically start their shift on the northbound local freight, Train Number 92, with a scheduled departure of 5:35 am.

Typical freight seen at Derby Jct include lime products destined for the Old Lead Belt on the Bonne Terre sub and coal from Illinois.

The Valley Dolomite Company in Desloge (Bonne Terre sub) ships to Illinois to fire the blast furnaces at Granite City Steel. Also seen are gondolas of chat from lead and iron ore milling. It is mainly used in concrete aggregate, roadstone, railroad ballast and fluxing. The main shippers are St. Joseph Lead Co. and Trap Rock Material & Engineering Co.

Bridge traffic for customers in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana via the Missouri Pacific interchange at Bismarck.