The History of The Frisco Kansas Division

1871 July24

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri. It is later disorganized.

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1872 April5

The State Line, Oswego and Southern Kansas Railway is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1872 April12

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas. 20 miles of track completed from Carthage to Brownsville, KS, 1873. 27 miles of line graded from Brownsville to Oswego, KS, Not completed.

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1872 April13

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

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1875 February11

The Pierce City and Kansas Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

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1875 February16

The Oswego and State Line Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1875 March6

The Oswego and State Line Railroad Company is consolidated with The Pierce City and Kansas Railroad Company to form The Missouri and Western Railway Company.

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1875 March19

The Missouri and Western Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1875 March22

The Missouri and Western Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

1877 February7

The State Line, Oswego and Southern Kansas Railway consolidates with the Memphis, Carthage, and Northwestern Railroad company to form the Memphis, Carthage, and Northwestern Railroad

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1877 February7

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is sold to the Missouri and Western Railway Company.

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1878 December31

The Missouri and Western Railway Company completes 27 miles to Oswego, KS in 1878.

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1879 February27

Wichita Eagle February 27, 1879, Page 2: Editorial says we now have an opportunity to get an extension of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad to Wichita from its present terminus of Oswego.

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1879 February27

Wichita Eagle February 27, 1879, Page 3: Report of a meeting held Saturday which passed resolutions favoring voting of bonds to aid the extension of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad from Oswego to Wichita.

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1879 March21

The St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1879 April3

Wichita Eagle,Thursday, April 3rd, 1879, Page 3:The Wichita Eagle publishes a legal petition calling for special election to vote bonds to aid construction of a railway from Oswego to Wichita by the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railway.

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1879 April10

Wichita Eagle,Thursday, April 10, 1879, Page 3: The Wichita Eagle publishes a proclamation for special election May 20th to vote bonds for St. Louis, Wichita, and Western railroad project. Total amount of bonds: $230,000.

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1879 May15

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, May 15th, 1879, Page 2: Article summarizes terms of proposed bond issue for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad: Must commence construction within 60 days. Must build and operate 75 miles of the road by next January. If i

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1879 May20

Bonds carried for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad

1879 May22

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, May 22, 1879, Page 2: An article in the Wichita Eagle reports the vote on May 20th which carried by a large margin for the subscription of bonds for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad.

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1879 June26

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, June 26th, 1879, Page 3: Grading of the first 20 miles of the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad from Oswego started a week ago last Saturday. Thirteen thousand tons of steel rails have been bought, to be delivered before Ja

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1879 July3

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, July 3rd, 1879, Page 3: About 1000 men are at work on the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad west of Oswego. Delivery of steel rails will commence the second week in August and will continue at the rate of 3000 tons per mont

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1879 July24

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, July 24th, 1879, Page 3: Stockholders of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad voted July 17th to increase bonded debt of the company $1,100,000 in order to acquire the Missouri and Western Railroad (from Pierce City, Missouri

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1879 July26

The Missouri and Western Railway Company's property in Missouri is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company.

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1879 July29

The Missouri and Western Railway Company's property in Kansas is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company.

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1879 September18

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, September 18th, 1879, Page 3: Track laying on the St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railroad is progressing at the rate of one and one half miles daily. The road will be finished to Cherryvale by the last of this month and to Fredoni

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1879 October9

Wichita Eagle, October 9th, 1879, Page 3: The tracks of the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad reached Cherryvale Saturday night.

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1879 November20

Cars commenced running through to Neodesha on Sunday, November 9th. Track laying is pushing for Fredonia. Seven new ten wheel Baldwin engines, 19 by 24 feet, arrived at Springfield November 10th.

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1879 November27

Track layers are 1 mile east of Fredonia, and have ran into issues with rock cuts. Depots have been built in Cherryvale and Neodesha.

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1879 December11

The board of appraisers, or condemning commission, have been very busy for some days past, condemning the right of way through this county for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad. The line approaches from the eastern boundary of the county on a s

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1879 December31

The St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railway Company completes 61 miles to New Albany, KS.

1880 January1

The St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad is now completed more than 75 miles west of Oswego and will commence on December 28th running passenger and freight trains over this 75 miles, thus complying with conditions of the Sedgwick County bond subsidy.

1880 February26

The Wichita Eagle reports that graders on the St. Louis and San Francisco are in sight of town.

1880 March4

Messrs. Hobart and Allen, directors of the St. Louis and San Francisco road, have been in Wichita this week. It was thought that the depot and so forth were permanently located in the north part of town, but Mr. Hobart informs us that the right of way into that part of the city will cost them so much more than they had calculated upon that he did not feel justified in recommending its adoption, unless something could be done. The lower end and east side of the city have made very favorable propositions, and unless high prices at the upper end can be materially compromised or reduced the location will be changed, he thinks.

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1880 May20

The Wichita Eagle reports "The smoke of the construction train of the St. Louis road can be seen over the hill as we go to press. The general passenger agent of the St. Louis and San Francisco was in Wichita last week making arrangements for operating the new railroad. The terminal facilities of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe will be used and for the present the railroad will run into the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe depot. The curve in the grade, running to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, is being made by the St. Louis and San Francisco."

1880 May23

The last rail was laid Sunday evening and the Great East and West Railroad is completed to Wichita. On Monday evening Superintendent Rogers reached here by a special. Regular passenger trains commence running this week. The first dirt on this extension was broken at Oswego on June 17, 1879 and steel rails laid the full distance of 145 miles since then.

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1880 June1

The first passenger train is ran to Wichita over the new line. The train started carrying St. Louis mail on Tuesday, June 1st.

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1880 June3

Quotes of several newspaper articles on the completion of the St. Louis and San Francisco railway to Wichita. Mentions that since the voting of bonds, the stock of the St. Louis and San Francisco road has been acquired by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Company, and Wichita is unhappy that the new road will not be independent and compete with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe and is therefore reluctant to pay the whole $230,000 bond issue.

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1880 June5

One hundred nineteen car loads of freight, etc. have been received over the St. Louis and Wichita road up to Saturday night.

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1880 June17

The St. Louis road is shipping in Butler County stone and has shipped out 40 car loads of sand

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1880 June24

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company have laid a track about 300 feet long alongside of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe for transfer purposes.

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1880 August26

The St. Louis and San Francisco will extend their track along Pine Street and will at its intersection with Main Street erect an independent depot. It seems that the proposition to build a union passenger depot on the triangle at the intersection of the roads has fallen through.

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1880 September16

A survey is being made by the St. Louis and San Francisco from Sedgwick City to Halstead along the banks of the Little River to a connection with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

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1880 November18

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad is now advertised in St. Louis as the “Frisco Line” which is short and handy.

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1881 March17

Note says a track has been ordered between Sedgwick City and Halstead to connect the Frisco and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

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1881 May26

An article in the Wichita Eagle says the Frisco railway is demanding issuance of $42,000 of bonds voted to aid

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1881 November3

Editorial saying the Frisco is threatening to build a branch from Augusta to Newton, and implying that the failure of Sedgwick county to live up to its contract and issue all the bonds for the St. Louis-San Francisco railway lost to Wichita the location of a depot and machine shops and also the extension of at least one line to the western limits of the county.

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1882 January5

This intimation given out by the Eagle last spring that a passenger depot would be built at the intersection of the Frisco and Santa Fe Railroad, near the northern limits of the city, was received with some little skepticism. In addition to the grounds within the “Y” the companies have purchased strips on each side of the track 50 and 100 feet respectively by 1000 feet long. The plan shows a very nice passenger depot 80 feet long and 30 feet wide and two stories high. The freight business of both roads will be done at the old depot; the passenger, mail, and transfer business at the new. The spot designated for the new depot is on the west side of the main track of Santa Fe and north of Oak street.

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1882 February23

The Joplin and Galena Railway consolidates with the Joplin Railroad Company to form the Joplin Railway Company.

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1882 February23

The Joplin Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1882 February25

The Joplin Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

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1882 March17

The Joplin Railway Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company.

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1882 March28

The St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railway Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company

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1883 January4

The Frisco Railroad gross earnings during 1882 will be about $3,610,000, about $450,000 more than in 1881 due to the short crop in 1881. Net earnings will be about $1,920,000, and after paying all fixed charges and the dividend on the preferred stock, the company will show a surplus for the year of over $500,000.

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1883 April5

A six drive-wheeled engine on the Frisco left Wichita last week for St. Louis with 57 freight cars, making a train of upwards of 1700 feet in length. One engine on the Santa Fe pulled 63 cars from Newton to Wichita once, which was the longest ever pulled in or out of Wichita by one engine.

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1883 November22

The new standard time has been adopted by the railroads entering Wichita.

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1884 March27

The Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general statutes of Kansas.

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1884 September12

The Santa Fe and Frisco railroads have fitted up an elegant ticket office.

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1885 April11

Work to Commence Immediately on the Kansas City and Southwestern.

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1885 November16

The brick walls are up at the Consolidated Tank Line company’s warehouse at the Y of

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1885 November25

The Eagle reports "Our Santa Fe friends are probably opening their eyes to the fact that the little cutoff constructed by them for the accommodation of the Frisco from Sedgwick city to Halstead is liable to become very soon an important link."

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1885 December31

The Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company completes 62 miles to Erie, OK.

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1886 February8

The Kansas Midland Railway Company is created under the general laws of Kansas.

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1886 February10

The first charter of this week was granted to the Kansas Midland Railway Company, which is designed to run from Wichita to Red Cloud, Nebraska on the Burlington and Missouri River. Capital stock is $5,000,000. Directors are S. W. Campbell, C. R. Miller, J. O. Davidson, W. E. Stanley, Robert E. Lawrence, H. G. Lee, and O. H. Bentley, all of Wichita.

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1886 October6

The room on North Main st. formerly occupied by the post office, is was fitted up so the Santa Fe and Frisco ticket office could be moved to it.

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1887 January29

Union Stock Yards organized yesterday as a joint stock company. 15 acres of ground has been secured at the junction of the Missouri Pacific, Santa Fe, Rock Island and Midland, or in the present "Y" of the Ft. Scott, and Santa Fe. $200,000 has been subscribed.

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1887 January29

Site of Union Freight Transfer Depot settled. It has been decided to locate it on Fifth Avenue on the east side of the Santa Fe track between Kellogg and Orme Streets. The building will be put up by the Santa Fe, Wichita and Western, Frisco, Rock Island and the Kansas Midland companies. It will have east front of 200 ft. and 75 ft. wide. On each side of the building will be a platform 50 ft. wide which will be under roof.

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1887 March19

A charter has been filed for a town site near five miles east on the Frisco line, to be called Manchester.

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1887 April8

The architect firm of Patton and Fisher, of Chicago, has completed plans for the Fairmount college building. The Frisco Railroad has commenced work on a switch from their road to the college site.

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1887 April9

Article says at dawn yesterday a gang of Frisco workers began laying a switch from their line near Oak Street across country to Washington Avenue, which the switch joins about 120 ft. south of Oak Street Details. Says the route of the Kansas Midland is likely the cause of the Frisco's actions, since the affinity between the two roads has of late grown very rapidly.

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1887 April10

Agreement between the Kansas Midland and the Frisco Railroad for the latter to become interested in the construction and operation of the former road from Wichita into Nebraska. The entire road is to be put under contract within ten days and the Frisco will run her trains through from St. Louis over the entire line, while the Kansas Midland company will operate the local trains from Wichita.

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1887 April12

An ordinance passed by Wichita city council yesterday granting Kansas Midland the right to construct a switch from a point on Washington Avenue near Oak Street in a southeast direction.

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1887 April15

Several car loads of rails arrived yesterday for the Kansas Midland. Work has commenced on the switch between this road and the Frisco, allowed by the council at their last meeting.

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1887 April21

A meeting of the stockholders of the Kansas Midland Railroad here yesterday ratified the lease of this road to the Frisco.

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1887 April26

The Frisco completed the laying of a track from Wabash Avenue to the corner of Oak and Washington, joining there the Kansas Midland.

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1887 May12

The stone and brick mason work for the foundation of Fairmount college has been let to Mr. H. M. Matheson. Excavation for the main building has been completed. Material for the foundation is arriving from Augusta and is conveyed from the main line of the Frisco road on a switch to the building site.

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1887 August24

Arrangements have been made for a switch off the Frisco at 13th Street. A lumber company has been formed with yard at the end of the switch.

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1887 September13

The joint passenger station of the Kansas Midland and Frisco roads at Wabash Avenue has just been completed by Capt. White, who is now erecting the stations at Burton and elsewhere. The station at Wabash Avenue is quite similar to the first class depots of the Frisco.

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1887 September13

The Midland Railroad has finished a 50,000 gallon water tank at Lake and is building the third near Lyons.

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1887 October27

Major H. L. Morrill, general manager of the Frisco, arrived yesterday in his special car, the "Catoosa," and was met at the Wabash Avenue depot by Kansas Midland officials.

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1887 December28

The Kansas Midland switch on Mosley Avenue from Second Street to Kellogg will probably be completed today. It is being put down by a large force of Frisco men.

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1888 January15

Kansas Midland railway have made a time card which will go into effect in a few days, giving a passenger train service each way daily; also a freight train north and south daily to Ellsworth, 103 miles north, where it connects with the Union Pacific. Passenger and mail north leaves Wichita daily at 7:30 a.m., arrives at Ellsworth at 12:33 p.m. Passenger and mail leaves Ellsworth at 3:45 p.m. and arrives Wichita at 8:40 p.m. The freight and passenger business for this line will be transacted at the union freight and ticket offices of the Santa Fe and Frisco companies.

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1888 January25

Frisco and Kansas Midland officials inspected and accepted the new line to Ellsworth yesterday and will commence operating the line tomorrow.

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1888 December31

The Kansas Midland Railway Company completes 106 Miles from Wichita, KS to Ellsworth, KS in 1888.

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1889 September12

It is understood that about the 15th instant the leaser of the Harvey county railway expires and the Frisco from that time on will use their own track to Burrton, where they will make a connection with the Santa Fe.

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1889 September20

Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe., Frisco, Wichita and Western, and Kansas Midland RW all using Union Depot near Oak Street. Kansas Midland ad also mentions Wabash Avenue depot.

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1890 March16

Today the new Santa Fe depot is open to all trains. The depot will be the terminus of the Frisco and Wichita and Western. The Santa Fe will continue to sell local tickets and check local baggage only at Oak Street.

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1890 March16

The Frisco people have blood in their eyes for fellows who greased their track yesterday. The 10:00 passenger east on the up grade out of town was unable to make regulation time. The wheels of the engine went round and round faster than ever, like they were greased sure enough, but the train failed to move. The engineer frothed at the mouth and assisted by others the air was soon blue. It was sand, pulls up, back out for more sand, pull up, and back out for five hours before they got over the smooth rails. It is believed that some boys got hold of a grease can used by the electric line on curves and thought it would be fun to put it on the Frisco track.

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1891 April26

The new freight depot of the Santa Fe and Frisco railroads on Fifth Avenue., south of Douglas, has been completed, and beginning tomorrow morning all freight will be received and delivered from that point.

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1896 June30

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

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1896 August5

Mr. Wolff of St. Louis, the newly appointed receiver of the Kansas Midland Railroad, was in Wichita yesterday. It is said the road is now leased by the Frisco road and it is anticipated that the Frisco will take charge of the line from Wichita to Ellsworth at an early date.

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1896 August9

Notice issued by A. L. Wolff saying he has on July 29, 1896 by order of Judge Caldwell of the United States Circuit Court assumed control as receiver of the Kansas Midland Railway. Until further notice the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad company will continue to operate the Kansas Midland railway. Mr. W. P. Hornan is hereby appointed general manager for the receiver with headquarters at Wichita. The Frisco Railroad may build a depot of its own in Wichita or rent terminal facilities from the Rock Island, as it has been paying the Santa Fe a monthly rental of $1,600 for depot privileges and considers this entirely too much.

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1897 February16

Article reports Kansas Midland Railroad is purchasing the property on west side of Mosley from Douglas to Morris on which they propose to construct both passenger and freight depots and to build side tracks. At least four-fifths of the property has been purchased, and the remaining one-fifth will be appraised and condemned. The road has been operated by the Frisco under lease, but the recent change in the Frisco has released the Kansas Midland from its agreement with that road, and it is proposing to run the road on its own account.

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1897 March26

Article reported the Frisco railway plans to build its own new depot in Wichita. Ever since they have been running into Wichita they have used the depot of the Santa Fe. As it is now, they enter the city from the east and back down to the Douglas avenue depot by turning on the wye, which is between Pine and Oak streets, passing over Washington avenue. It is thought the new passenger depot will be on the corner of Douglas and Mosley. The freight depot will be on Mosley between William and English. The road will have 2,000 feet of ground between Douglas and Morris, which will be filled with side tracks and switches.

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1897 April9

The Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

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1897 April25

Monday morning the Midland Railway company will commence to move the old Oak street depot to the recently purchased location on Douglas avenue, east of the Rock Island track. The palatial brick depot which the people anticipated there was mythical. The depot will be moved on trucks and will not be taken apart. The road has secured the old brick livery stable on South Mosley avenue for a freight depot. The Midland will do business as an independent road between here and Ellsworth and will have nothing whatever to do with the Frisco road. The Frisco trains will terminate here and will run, as usual, into the Santa Fe depot. It is understood that it has made a new lease for five years with the Santa Fe for depot and terminal facilities.

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1897 May26

A force of men yesterday placed in position at Douglas and Mosley the old Frisco "Y" depot. The new depot for the Midland is 40 by 80 feet and is being remodeled, repainted, and otherwise ornamented.

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1897 June13

Article says that beginning July 1 the Frisco will run a train to Newton over Santa Fe tracks daily to connect with the west bound Santa Fe train.

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1897 June15

General manager Holman of the Midland Railroad and master mechanic C. A. DeHaven are making improvements in the vicinity of the Midland yards. They are putting in a three stall roundhouse, a machine shop, a car repair shop and sand house, besides the depot and general offices. There are 11 engines in all owned by the Midland and now used by the Frisco, and these will probably be stored here after July 1st. There will be a mixed train each way every day till the crops begin to move, after which there will probably be a round trip passenger.

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1897 July1

Frisco trains, beginning today, will stop in Wichita, not going to Burrton, as heretofore. The Frisco train arriving here at 3:40 p.m. from St. Louis will be run to Newton by the Santa Fe to make connections with Santa Fe trains going east and west.

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1897 July1

The first passenger train of the new Kansas Midland service will leave Ellsworth tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. and arrive in Wichita at 10:45. Returning, it will leave Wichita at 12:20 p.m. and arrive in Ellsworth at 4:30. It will make connections at Ellsworth with the Union Pacific fast mail to Denver, leaving Ellsworth at 5:10 p.m. and arriving in Denver at 4:00 a.m. the next day. The freight service will remain about as it is at present. There will be one train a day each way, leaving Ellsworth at 8:30 a.m. and arriving here at 2:50, and leaving Wichita at 7:30 a.m. and arriving in Ellsworth at 2:00. These trains will be allowed to carry passengers, so one can go up the road as far as Wherry and back the same day.

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1897 July11

An article in the Wichita Eagle reports new changes in the time card of the Frisco Railroad effective today.

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1898 July16

The Frisco is held up in Andover, where suspected robbers Samuel Smith and Tom Wynn (or Winn), and held up station agent S.B. McClaren. They then flagged down the express passenger

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1898 August4

Two men, Samuel Smith and Tom Wynn (or Winn), were taken into custody on suspicion of robbing the Frisco train at Andover.

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1898 August21

Article reports the Frisco has signed a lease agreement with the receiver of the Kansas Midland Railroad and will take charge of the lien September 1.

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1899 May7

Article reports rumors of a possible Union depot some where on East Douglas avenue, probably between the present Rock Island and Santa Fe depots. At present the Santa Fe, Frisco, Wichita and Western, and Midland trains all arrive at one depot which is called the Union depot. The Rock Island is but a block away. There are 42 passenger trains arriving and departing from Wichita daily, mostly between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

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1900 April1

The Wichita Eagle reports rumor that the Kansas Midland Railroad has been sold to the Frisco. The Frisco has the Midland under lease now.

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1900 April10

Article confirming the sale of the Kansas Midland (in hands of receiver) to the Frisco. ¶ The Frisco will now re-open and improve the Midland depot here and build its own terminal facilities in the way of side tracks, depot, switches, etc. After the expiration or annulment of the contract with the Santa Fe for western business by way of Newton the Frisco will use the Midland to Burton and reach Colorado and the west by way of the Union Pacific from Ellsworth. The Midland will be repaired and put in good shape.

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1900 April12

Report that Frisco will begin at once to improve the old Kansas Midland depot and terminal facilities and utilize them for its own use, now that it has gained control of the Midland. For a number of years the Frisco has had joint use of the Santa Fe depot with that road. The lease will not expire until February 1901, but it is said that the lease can be and will in all probability be abrogated. The report is out that the Frisco will greatly enlarge and improve the Midland depot and make it modern in every respect. The terminal facilities at present are by no means adequate and many additional sidetracks, crossings, turntables, and like conveniences will have to be put in.

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1900 April18

An article in the Wichita Eagle reports the Frisco paid $2,065,000 for the Kansas Midland. The article speculates on improvements of the Wichita terminal, passenger station, etc.

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1900 May12

The Frisco has decided to postpone erection of a passenger station in Wichita until the terminal contract with the Santa Fe expires, which will be in January 1901. Wichita Eagle/Tihen

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1900 July14

Article says the Kansas Midland Railroad company, while still in the hands of a receiver, has been operated for some time by the Frisco, and the latter company is expected to buy it when it is sold at public auction in Wichita on July 25.

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1900 September25

The Kansas Midland Railroad Company is created under the general laws of Kansas.

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1900 October1

The Kansas Midland Railroad Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

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1900 October1

The Kansas Midland Railway Company is sold to the The Kansas Midland Railroad Company.

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1900 October11

The Frisco plans to improve the track and facilities of the Kansas Midland line. Wichita Eagle/Tihen Notes

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1900 October18

The Frisco has put six solid extension vestibuled coaches on their service between Wichita and St. Louis. Wichita Eagle/Tihen Notes

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1900 October23

The title to the Kansas Midland was transferred to the Frisco. At the Master's sale last July the road was bought by representatives of the bondholders instead of by the Frisco, as first supposed. A new company was then formed, with the name of the road changed to the Kansas Midland Railroad company and the title of the old company was transferred to the new . The transaction yesterday transfers the title of the new company to the Frisco.

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1901 April19

Frisco to make Wichita a division point. All passenger crews will lay over at Wichita instead of going on to Burrton, and the Ellsworth crew will be run in here.

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1901 October20

The Frisco offices are having their signs reading "Frisco Line" removed and replaced with signs reading "Frisco System." The Frisco system now embraces the "Frisco Line" and the "Memphis Route."

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1902 January9

The Frisco Railroad will relay their track from Wichita to Carthage, Missouri, as soon as the rails can be obtained from the steel mills. The present rails weigh 56 pounds, but the new ones will weigh 75 pounds. The track was ballasted about a year ago. New track has already been laid from Carthage to St. Louis.

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1902 February9

Editorial about the inadequacy of the Santa Fe and Frisco depots here. Gives some history of reduction in planned size when the Santa Fe depot was built. "Another thing would very much please Wichita people, and that is for the Frisco to pull out that little wooden station and erect on its site a station commensurate with the importance of that road.”

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1902 April20

Frisco employees believe the recent trip of company officials to this city was to consider the building of a passenger station on the site of the old Midland station, which is no longer in use. The contract of the Frisco for the use of the Santa Fe passenger station has expired and the company can use other facilities whenever it so desires.

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1902 July2

The Frisco Railway company has donated to the park commissioners ten cars of Joplin crushed shale. This crushed rock will be used on the drive between Griffenstein bridge and the fountain in North Riverside park.

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1902 August26

w the Frisco preempted the Orient Railroad from laying a track on Mosley by itself without prior announcement laying a second track on the east side of Mosley from north of 3rd street to Lewis street in one day from early Sunday morning to late Sunday night. Two trains of materials and one train with 125 men was brought to Wichita from Neodesha between 6:00 p.m. and midnight Saturday and immediately started laying the track and then worked steadily all day. Many details. This is thought to be forerunner of a new Frisco depot at Mosley and Douglas, where the present frame structure is located.

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1902 September5

The Frisco Railroad has bought 124 lots along Mosley avenue. The land lies along both sides of Mosley extending north from one block south of Kellogg. It includes the entire block between Mosley and Mead and between Orme and Kellogg. Further details. The land is to be used for larger and better terminal facilities. Land has also been purchased for building a Y connection from near Murdock, and across Wabash to join the line on Mosley avenue. Previously it has been necessary for trains from the east must turn north to the junction on Washington avenue before proceeding south to the depot.

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1902 September13

Plans for the new Frisco passenger depot have been given to contractors with requests for bids to be received by September 20. Specifications for the freight depot have not yet been received here. The old frame depot has not been disposed of as yet. All of the new track laid down Mosley avenue has been reduced to grade and the switches put in, and it is now being used regularly by the company. The street crossings have been put in and the track ballasted with crushed rock from the Joplin mines.

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1902 September15

Work started on tearing down of the abandoned plant of the Burton Stock Car company. This would be the future site of the Frisco's 29th St. Yard.

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1902 September15

The city council yesterday granted the Frisco Railway company right of way over certain streets and alleys and vacated certain others in connection with the Frisco's expansion of its yards and depots in this city. Plans for the Frisco’s new freight depot were presented. It is to be just south of the passenger depot with a two story office building 30 by 40 feet on the north side and a warehouse one story high 120 feet long extending from this to the south and a covered platform 90 feet long extending south from the warehouse.

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1902 September21

The Frisco Railway company will put in a switch and 2,000 feet of track for the Burton Stock Car company to facilitate removal of material from the dismantled plant.

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1902 September26

The contract for new Frisco passenger station was let to G. W. Goodlander of Kansas City, the low bidder. It is understood that the railroad is hunting a purchaser to move off the old

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1902 October12

Bids will be opened on October 15 for the new Frisco freight depot. It will be on Rock Island avenue, 200 feet south of Douglas. The office will be a two story structure of gray pressed brick, 30 by 40 feet. Details of interior given. The warehouse will be 120 feet long and 40 feet wide, also of gray pressed brick. Ten doors will open on the west or team side and six on the east or track side. On the west a galvanized iron awning will extend 8 feet. On the east side a galvanized iron awning will extend over 8 feet of platform and 2 feet of track. The platform at the south end beyond the warehouse will be 100 by 48 feet and have an incline for heavy teams 16 feet long and 10 feet wide.

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1902 October19

Work on the removal of the old passenger depot of the Frisco line at Mosley and Douglas will begin tomorrow. The building will be removed to Morris avenue, north of Kellogg, and then used as a warehouse.

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1902 October25

The old Midland depot that has stood at the corner of Mosley and Douglas for years is being moved away. Yesterday it was blocked up, placed on rollers, and moved off the foundations. It has stood unoccupied for years. A long time ago it was a pretty good depot, as frame depots go, but it was never what a town of 20,000 people should have even when it was built. It was built by the Kansas Midland and occupied by them a few years. It was kept in pretty fair condition during that time, but when the road went into the hands of a receiver, it soon presented a very dilapidated appearance. When the road was sold to the Frisco, that company put in new windows, scrubbed the floors, and varnished the interior woodwork and made a show of using it for a few weeks. Years ago the windows were boarded up, the doors nailed shut, and the building became the home of sparrows and pigeons. The paint crumbed and fell, small boys pulled the boards off the windows and played marbles on the floors, and at night tramps made it their home. The old depot will now be moved down near the round house, where it will be used as a store room and tool shed. Work will start Monday on the excavations for the new depot.

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1902 November11

Yesterday the first stones were laid for the foundation of the new Frisco passenger depot. The contract has also now been let for the new freight depot. It will stand about 40 yards south and west of the passenger depot and will face the east.

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1902 December10

Workmen began tearing down the old Midland freight depot to make room for the new Frisco freight building. This big brick structure was erected years ago, during the boom, and was first used as a livery barn, but when the Midland road ran into this city it was converted into a freight house.

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1902 December29

Building permit issued for the new Frisco passenger depot at cost of $18,300, to be 45 by 90 feet. The foundations are now completed. Wichita Eagle/Tihen Notes

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1903 February3

Plans for the new Frisco terminals were received yesterday. They call for a roundhouse to house 12 engines, to be erected on Kellogg street, a coal chute, oil house, round house office, and a network of conveniently arranged tracks. Between Division street and Kellogg there will be 12 tracks. Two will run east of the freight depot for loading and unloading cars. Several switches will be built west of the passenger depot where sleepers will be placed before the departure of the trains. There will also be a beautiful park on the west side of the depot extending the full length of the building and about 100 feet wide. East of the depot a platform 15 feet wide and 300 feet long will extend, to be used in handling baggage. The new buildings and yards are to be completed by June 1, when the Frisco contract for using the Santa Fe tracks expires.

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1903 February21

The brick walls of the Frisco freight depot are above the first story of the office. They are buff colored and the mortar used is red, making a very attractive combination. Material is arriving daily and work above ground on the passenger depot will commence soon.

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1903 March3

The Frisco Railroad has let contract for the round house to be built in its Wichita yards. Wichita Eagle/Tihen Notes

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1903 March28

Material unloaded in the Frisco yards yesterday for the new round house and construction will begin at once. The building will be located about one-half block south of Kellogg on Mosley avenue and will cost $10,000. It will be built almost entirely of brick and its capacity will be eight engines an will have an iron turntable. The Frisco freight depot is almost completed and work on the passenger depot is being pushed as rapidly as possible.

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1903 May29

Frisco will start handing business from the new freight depot on Monday, June 1, 1903. The depot is just south of Douglas on Rock Island. The desks and papers of the company now in the Santa Fe depot will be moved Saturday and Sunday.

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1903 July16

Article about progress on new Frisco station and facilities. Round house has been completed but cannot be used until the new turntable arrives -- it's expected any day. A new freight track for teams is being put in, so that goods may be unloaded directly from the cars to the wagons. It is located along Rock Island avenue, just south of the freight depot. Second story of passenger station is completed and windows and doors are all in. Interior work being done, hoping for official opening on August 1st.

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1903 August1

New Frisco depot will be officially opened to the public today. First passenger train will arrive at 8:15 this morning. The down town Frisco office at corner of Main and Douglas will be closed.

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1903 August5

The Frisco depot is opened to public viewing. At one time a solid mass of people filled Douglas avenue from the Rock Island tracks to Washington avenue.

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1903 September6

The new Frisco switch engine Number 3618 has been assigned to duty on the joint switches in the North End.

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1907 February21

Frisco Railroad has agreed to build a new steel trestle bridge across the drainage canal. The canal will intersect the Frisco right-of-way several hundred feet from the present Frisco bridge over Chisholm creek. The new bridge will be about 60 feet in length. The canal crosses the right-of-way of the road near 12th street.

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1907 April11

Three cars and the tender of Frisco train No. 308, pulled by engine No. 152,were derailed six miles west of Medora on southbound trip from Ellsworth. Traffic was

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1907 April16

Office of O. G. Burrows, commercial agent for the Orient Railroad in this city, announced today that the Orient’s offices, now located at 249 North Main, will be moved on or about May

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1907 April18

The Wichita Beacon reports that The Frisco Railroad plans improvements in Wichita because of increased business

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1907 May16

Report of incident of round house yesterday causing minor damage to Frisco switch engine No. 3608. Wichita Beacon/Tihen Notes

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1907 June7

The Rock Island has made an agreement with the Frisco to turn the Rock Island’s big new engines on the Frisco’s “Y” at Murdock avenue. The Rock Island has no turn table in this city

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1907 July12

The short track from the Rock Island to the Frisco tracks at Murdock avenue has been completed and will now make it possible to turn the heavy Rock Island engines here, which are too

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1907 September21

Cleveland avenue street car Number 100, with Conductor John Stamp, collided with a freight train at the Frisco crossing on East Douglas last night. Car Number 100 is the one that plunged into Chisholm creek several years ago, injuring 13.

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1907 October10

The Frisco is getting the road bed between Wichita and Beaumont in shape for relaying the track. Heavier and stronger bridges and culverts are being put in.

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1907 October22

The Frisco Railroad plans to spend $20,000 for improvements in Wichita the coming year, including addition of two stalls to the roundhouse, making a total of seven stalls, and building

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1970 March2

The Great Northern Railroad, the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad merge to become Burlington Northern Railroad.

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1970 March2

Upon the commencement of the merger, the Burlington Northern Railroad immediatly leases the Spokane, Portland, & Seattle Railway.

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1980 November21

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad is Formally merged into the Burlington Northern Railroad.

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2004 November8

The track from Augusta to Andover is torn out between 11/01/04 and 11/19/04.

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2005 January24

Plans are announced to scrap the remaining western portion of the line from the sedgwick/butler line to a point in Wichita.

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2005 April30

The rest of the line from Augusta to Wichita is scrapped, with only a few railroad ties and tracks left behind. Only 100 miles or so of the line remain in Kansas, with even fewer in Missouri.

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