Line from Topeka KS. to Lomax KS.

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  • November 29, 2015 at 11:08 am #5621
    Steve Kitchen
    Member

    I was wondering if anyone has any info on the line that ran from Topeka, KS. to Lomax KS. I understand that this was part of a line theat ran to Fort Scott, KS. but the southern end from Lomax to Fort Scott was abandoned in 1934. This is about all the information I have been able to find. I also could only find a couple of pictures. Any information on this line would be appreciated. Have a great day!

    Cade Smith

    November 29, 2015 at 9:25 pm #7535
    princessclyne69
    Participant

    I don’t know much more about it than that, other than that the line was built from Ft. Scott which was the origin of the Ft. Scott, Wichita and Western. Ft. Scott was one of the early development points for Kansas in general, being just across the border from Missouri and of course having the fort proper as its economic base early on. The line’s last hurrah would have been the special train operated from Pittsburg in January 1932 for the inauguration in Topeka of Gov. Alf Landon.

    The book Rails, Rivalry and Romance by Don Banwart has some coverage of it.

    Ron Merrick

    December 20, 2015 at 3:50 pm #7623
    madonnasuffolk30
    Participant

    Cade,

    If you search on Facebook for the “Missouri Pacific” group, Paul De Luca posted a picture of a train on that line switching at a grain elevator. He mentioned that he worked that line many times and I noticed a few other gentleman posted they also worked that line and they may be willing to answer your questions. If possible, can you post on this group any information that you receive so we all can learn about the line?

    Attached is his photo and also a link to the Facebook conversation. I also attached the circa 1931 diagram of the line. The circa 1931 diagrams have the line to Fort Scott, but I didn’t include it in the attachments.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1538180136493586&set=gm.1123284917689199&type=3&theater

    From the 1980 gross ton movement map the line shipped 410,000 tons south and 370,000 tons north.

    Nate

    December 26, 2015 at 5:17 am #7649
    xlnublqeutorojxk
    Participant

    Don Banwart’s 1982 book Rails, Rivalry, and Romance contains quite a bit about the line from early construction to abandonment in the depths of the Great Depression. It originated as the Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota Railroad… but in spite of the usual great things forecast for those kinds of projects it only reached from Ft. Scott to Topeka.

    Kevin Blair
    Chanute, KS

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