There are two stations in Kansas on the brink of being razed. Is anyone else interested in trying to preserve these? I have already made the contacts to the railroad and they are waiting for my “bid”. It is a bit overwhelming for a single individual mostly because I am long distance from both stations (about 8 hour drive), and neither are they close to each other.
Kiowa (south central), and Florence (central east).
A BNSF merchandise, horns blowing a grade crossing warning, blast past the Kiowa station at about 70mph. Early morning day after Thanksgiving 2005.
I really have not held a strong interest in stations as most are now unused eye sores such as @ Florence. In 1986 SF dismantled the train sheds at the Newton depot which caused an uproar but the structure was falling apart, SF had better things to do that fix a structure which didn’t mean anything to its rail operations to begin with.
Zephyr,
This is a stucco bldg…What is your proposal to save it.? .Move it ? buy the property and put a fence around it or wwhat? Is there a presevation group or developer around this area that would be interested in doing something w/it?
Buy and preserve in place. The BNSF will require a fence along the main (obviously). It is a pitty the railroad has routed the mainline onto the track right next to the station. It used to be the 3rd siding. The brick and stucco are in fairly good condition. It is the roof that needs work. I don’t know how a tile roof can become so bad. Someone has already stolen all the “Coffeeville” Bricks that made up the walkway around the building.
According to my “Stations of the Santa Fe” book, this was a unique design not following the normal Santa Fe “county seat” style.
No, if that was the case there would not be an issue. Kiowa is one of those small farming towns that is slowly going the way of the Buffaloe. The station has already been offered to the community and they refused. As near as I can tell they are having a hard enough time keeping a museum they have in town going.
Sorry about that - I accidentally quoted this this post - then accidentally deleted it.
Florence isn’t such an eyesore as Lyons, or some of the others I’ve seen. I see the real problem with Florence is that they have separated it from the rest of the town with the river levee. So if there is a flood any restoration work would be moot. I think Florence is small enough that it might be moveable.
i want to help i only live 20 miles from florence!!! I helped get the Strong city deopt saved, the railroad was gonna tear it down, talked the city into buying, and now we are going to retore it!
yeah i was just at the liabray in marion on wendsday, i have no clue where to move it, to higher ground would be good. hmm i would have to go over there and look around.
Check around for local chapters of the Santa Fe Technical and Historical Society. If this truly is a unique station, they’d be the best source for data toward your argument to save it.
Also, some possible use, other than a simple museum, can make this worh something in a commercial sense.
IT would also bear mentioning on this thread that a pretty good example of a large brick Santa Fe station is still standing in Cherryvale, Ks[ east of rt 169, Turn at the Sonic and proceed east to the RRXing.] It is still in use as the headquarters for the[ WATCO Companies] South Kansas and Oklahoma RR, The SKOL line.[8D] And is also the home for the Cherryvale HO Club and Layout, meets most friday’s at 7 pm. http://www.watcocompanies.com/Railroads/sekr_skol/sekr_skol.htm
Sam
