This topic came up on another Forum I monitor (arksmook/google). One of the members there asked if anyone had any information on the possibility of BNSF relaying an abandoned section of the former ATSF line West of Strong City, Kansas to Lost Spring,Kansas.
Apparently the line was lifted sometime in the late 1960’s (66/67)(?). It is approximately 20 to 25 miles and would connects th Transcon to a North/South Connection to area of Superior, Nebraska. The reason for the reconnection( as mentioned by the other Poster) are capacity issues on the UP / BNSF lines to the West towards Abilene and Newton. The specific section involved is a line from Strong City,Ks through a location that was an ATSF Jct. known as Neva,Ks. to Lost Springs, Ks ( the location of the current N/S existing line).
I was hopeful some Posters here might have information or ideas; or possibly had heard something on the eventuality of this connection being done. I was unable to find out anything in local publications or in BNSF releases? Would appreciate any information.
Looking at an old OG and a wall map and Google Earth, I am somewhat confused as to what purpose relaying that line would be? Not familiar with your area…so could you help me out here. Generally, the line runs NW from BNSF Transcon to BNSF line to Superior and also into the UP line at Lost Springs.
What kind of traffic moves over these lines? How would it impact the major E-W lines of UP and BNSF.
I was always amazed to look at the ATSF map and the multiple routes thru Kansas.
Can you tell me what the route of the Transcon is today? Thru Wichita or El Dorado? Are the two lines used for mainline moves?
Hmm, my SPV Rail Atlas for Prairies West shows that line still operational and still owned by BNSF in 2002. The N-S line at Lost Springs is the former Rock Island mainline from KC to Dallas-Ft. Worth now owned by the UP.
The Transcon of the BNSF is composed of two routes from Mulvane it goes north into Wichita and the yard on the North side of Wichita , north to Newton and then swings northeasterly via Peabody and Florence to the Emporia area.
Mulvane,Ks. is the junction of the Ark City Sub and the Emporia sub. There was a diagram of the trackage at Mulvane in an issue of TRAINS IIRC within the last year(?).
The line branches at Mulvane and goes Norteasterly towards Augusta, (where it meets the line that is N/S coming up from Winfield and Arkansas City. At August it swings Easterly towards El Dorado, roughly paralleling I-35 to the east through the area of Cassoday and the Flint Hills to Emporia,
The Lines are both used for mainline moves, they are signaled for bi directional running, and speeds can be in the 60/70 mph range. AMTRAK comes out of Topeka though to Newton and then west on the LaJunta sub via the Hutchinson area. Newton being the closest current stop for the Wichita area.
Beaulieu, said:
“…Hmm, my SPV Rail Atlas for Prairies West shows that line still operational and still owned by BNSF in 2002. The N-S line at Lost Springs is the former Rock Island mainline from KC to Dallas-Ft. Worth now owned by the UP…”
The section of track I had reference to was the connection on the East end of the LaJunta sub from Strong City,Ks via the Neva,Ks junction (switch) towards Lost Springs,Ks. it is approximately 25 miles and was lifted in 2006/2007.
You are correct the UPRR line is the former OKT RR (nee; MKT, and was in fact the RI line from KC to DFW area. Apparently the BNSF has a trackage agreement on it from Wichita area, as does the UPRR on the BNSF segment. Apparently, UP’s traffic by its volume
The section of roadbed is the southern end of the Strong City Sub from Lost Springs-Neva which is four miles west of SC on the Laj Sub. Most this trk was removed around the1990s, the xing over US 50 paved over and the switch connecting w/ what is now the mainline between Emporia-Newton was also removed. I have not heard of any plans to reopen this line. Not saying it could take place but it would be odd to do so. My guess is this stretch was closed in 1986 as a branchline through route. That yr, SF acquired its joint operation on Katy-UP from Peabody-Lost Springs to connect w/ the SC Sub at Springs and north to Abliene and points beyond. The Newton-Abliene-Superior local service, in various forms, was established at that time and continues to this day. Prior to that, this was a Emporia-Abliene service. This traffic moves directly between Newton and northern KS thus bypassing Emporia.
"to abandon a 25.57-mile line of railroad between BNSF milepost 0.00 near Neva and milepost 25.45 near Lost Springs, in Chase, Morris, Marion and Dickinson Counties, KS.’
Neva to Lost Springs Abandonment = AB-6-425-X (applied 9-29-04; granted 10-29-04)/ ATSF Strong City District was 49 MPH (with some 40 MPH curves and two 35 MPH crossings)dark territory to the end. The old ATSF Middle Division rarely used the route as a through route.
Application to convert to a rail-trail was DENIED. BNSF would have to buy back whatever was sold off or reverted. Application to build “new” line not submitted to STB or to KDOT/puc for crossings…the process to rebuild would be like mating elephants.