Also in 1880, the Southern Kansas & Western became a part of the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kansas Railroad.
In 1883, the line became a part of the Southern Kansas Railway.
By 1885, the line would be extended another 43 miles to Chanute, at the junction of another mainline.
This additional line would be completed in 1887 by the Chicago, Kansas & Western Railway. Both of the railroads which built the Wellington-Chanute line would be leased by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1888; and fully merged by 1899.
Despite being a rather important connection to the ATSF for nearly a century, the line would be sold in 1990 to the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad.
The SKOL was sold numerous lines in Southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. Many of these lines were branch lines, and subsequently abandoned.
A portion of this line, between Fredonia and Chanute saw demise in 2000, when it would be abandoned.
Currently, the abandoned portion is part of the proposed Western Sky Trail; while the remainder of the line connects Wellington to Fredonia and is still operated by the SKOL railroad.
06/26/21
This simple stone arch bridge crosses an unnamed creek near the town of Benedict.
Simply built, the bridge features a single stone arch span. It was built in 1899 when the Santa Fe was upgrading trestles along branch lines.
The bridge has held up beautifully for many years. The railroad classifies it as a rubble arch.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from Marion Road.