Rail transportation was severly affected by the Great Cyclone.
Birdโs-eye view of the complete destruction of the Union Depot Power House. The Union Depot Railroad was one the largest of the dozen or so privately owned rail companies in St. Louis in the late 19th century. The Power House was located at Jefferson between Geyer and Allen Avenues, just southwest of Lafayette Park. The building collapsed onto the railcars that were in the building, killing several people.
Closer view of the destroyed Union Depot Power House. Stunned St. Louisans came out to see the damage the tornado had caused in the days following the disaster. The Union Depot Railroad was one of St. Louis' largest in the 1890s. The Power House was located at Jefferson between Geyer and Allen Avenues, just southwest of Lafayette Park. The building collapsed onto the railcars that were in the building, killing several people.
The tornado devastated this area of Jefferson Avenue just west of Lafayette Park. The building on the right is the streetcar shed of the People's Railway Company, one of over a dozen privately owned rail companies that served St. Louis at the time. One car can be seen on the unroofed 2nd floor. It seems to be Car 12 of the Fourth and Chouteau line. The words Fourth and Chouteau can be seen on its side, and some of the words on its roofline seem to be stops on this line, such as the Iron Mtn. Depot, Lafayette Park, and Shaw's Garden. The People's Railway Company's offices were at 18th Street and Park Avenue, on the east side of Lafayette Park.
Offices of the Union Depot Railroad. This was one of the largest of the dozen or so privately operated rail and streetcar companies that served St. Louis in the 1890s. Curtains were sucked out of windows of its headquarters, located at the corner of Missouri and Geyer Avenues just south of Lafayette Park.
The tornado struck the Christopher & Simpson Architectural Iron and Foundry Company, located on Park Avenue between 8th and 9th streets. An overturned streetcar is seen at center right, and the iron pillars for buildings that this company made can be seen on the ground at left.
